Farmers Movement Archive

Will gherao official if no ops at Naraingarh sugar mill: Farmers

Ambala, September 17Following the apprehension that the Naraingarh sugar mill may not start operation in the coming cane crushing season and sugarcane will be diverted to other sugar mills, sugarcane farmers — under the banner of Ambala Samyukta Morcha — held a panchayat in Saha. They have threatened to gherao the office of Cane Commissioner Haryana in Panchkula on September 28.Vinod Rana, president of Ganna Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, said, “The cane commissioner has intimated the MDs of Shahabad sugar mill, Piccadily Agro Industries Bhadson (Karnal) and Chief Operating Officer of Saraswati sugar mill, Yamunanagar, that in case the Naraingarh sugar mill fails to start operation in crushing season 2021-22, the sugarcane available in the assigned area of Naraingarh sugar mill may be diverted to these three sugar mills.The current financial condition of the mill and the letter issued by the cane commissioner indicates that the mill is not going to start its operation in the coming season.BKU (Charuni) Ambala spokesman Rajiv Sharma said, “The morcha has decided to gherao the cane commissioner’s office on September 28. Besides the farmers’ dues of Rs 66 crore, there is a crop loan of around Rs 35 crore which the mill needs to clear. If the season is not started, the previous payments may get stuck.”Meanwhile, Niraj, SDM, Naraingarh, said, “We have no orders from the government to close the mill. We have been making all preparations for the coming session which is expected to start from November 15.”On the other hand, sugarcane farmers in Shahabad also held a meeting and have threatened to protest if sugarcane of other districts is brought there.BKU Charuni (spokesman) Rakesh Bains said, “The Shahabad sugar mill has the capacity to crush 80 lakh quintal sugarcane and it already gets more sugarcane than its capacity. The government should ensure smooth operation of Naraingarh sugar mill. The Shahabad mill officials have informed that they have apprised the government that the mill is in no position to accept sugarcane from any other district.”80L quintal capacityThe Shahabad sugar mill has the capacity to crush 80 lakh quintal sugarcane and it already gets more sugarcane than its capacity. The government should ensure smooth operation of Naraingarh sugar mill. — Rakesh Bains, spokesman, BKU Charuni

The Tribune

2021-09-18