Protesting against the lackadaisical attitude of the State Government towards the Badamba Sugar Mill, a large number of sugarcane growers from Cuttack, Jagasinghpur, Kendrapada and Jajpur districts under the banner of the Sugarcane Growers’ Sangha, took out a procession from the mill to the local tehsildar’s office on October 1.
The registered sugarcane growers of the mill have been desperately waiting for commissioning of the mill as the procurement time of sugarcane is nearing. The authorities of the sugar mill have stated that the Government’s apathy is responsible for the delay in commissioning of the mill.
The sugarcane growers staged the rally demanding Government intervention for immediate commissioning of the mill. A memorandum for the Cuttack Collector was submitted to the tehsildar.
Sangha convener Hemant Kumar Behera said some vested interest persons have overlooked the interests of the farmers who have been depending on this Balaji Sugar Mill since its inception in 2008. While other mills have been offering price of `800 per tonne of sugarcane, this mill used to pay `1,400 along with transportation expenses. Consequently, the sugarcane procurement increased to six lakh tonnes from two lakhs of tonnes.
The farmers threatened to set their sugarcane on fire in the field or commit suicide unless the Government does not ensure commissioning of the mill.