Direct private sugar mills to clear dues of farmers: SAD to Punjab CM

Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday asked Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to prevail upon private sugar mills to clear outstanding payment of Rs 383 crore to farmers. In a statement in Chandigarh, SAD’s farmer wing president Sikander Singh Maluka said it was strange that though CM has asked Finance Department and Sugarfed, an apex body of cooperative sugar mills, to clear Rs 299 crore due to farmers, effort is being made to direct private mills in this regard. Maluka said private mills owed farmers Rs 383 crore on account of sugarcane procured from m in 2018-19 and 2019-20, which has t been paid till w.

Maluka said as per Sugarcane Purchase and Regulation Act, sugar mills must make payment within 14 days of purchase or else pay interest on late payment. Accordingly, all pending dues of farmers should be cleared along with interest, he said. Maluka also reminded CM since agriculture portfolio was with him, private sugar mills could t be allowed to break rules and go unpunished.

He said sugarcane crop helped farmers diversify from wheat and paddy. “In case cane growers are t paid in time, it will dam diversification plans of state besides leading to furr distress amongst farmers as well as an agrarian crisis,” he said.

(Im credits: PTI)