Farmers Movement Archive

Naraingarh mill fails to clear cane dues, farmers block highway

Ambala: Protesting farmers blocked the national highway at Banondi village in Shahzadpur area of Ambala district on Monday for two hours after the Naraingarh Sugar Mill management failed to clear their sugarcane dues as promised. The mill owes about Rs 102 crore of sugarcane payments to farmers of Ambala region from the ongoing season of 2020-21 and owes about Rs 3 crore from the last season. The protest was held under leadership of BKU Haryana (Charuni) Ambala district president Malkiat Singh Sahibpura and Ganna Sangharsh Samiti (GSS) president Vinod Rana. Earlier in the day, the Haryana government appointed chief executive officer (CEO) Narender Malik reached the protest spot and informed the farmers that the request for pledge money had been rejected by the Harco Bank and the mill would be able to clear the payments only after its stock is sold. On March 10, farmers had held a protest meeting outside the mill and confined the mill officials while demanding payment. They had relented only after the management promised to clear the dues by March 20, provided the mill managed to get a pledge money loan on the basis of sugar stock available with it. Sahibpura said, “The mill failed to clear payment, as it promised in the last meeting... So far, the mill has cleared payments of up to January 6 and owes about Rs 102 crore to the cane growers.” Naraingarh sub-division magistrate Vaishali Sharma said, “We cannot tell when the sugar will be sold, as it depends on the market situation. I have highlighted the matter at the level of chief minister, to provide some financial assistance so that the dues of farmers are cleared. He (CM) has asked for two-three days’ time.”

The Times of India

2021-03-23

Chandigarh