A sum of Rs71 crore was released to make payment to sugarcane growers who have been demanding payment of outstanding arrears by private sugar mills in Punjab.
“On the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, a sum of Rs71 crore has been released through banks for making immediate payment of outstanding sugar cane arrears to the farmers due towards the owners of six private sugar mills in the state,” said an official spokesperson.
He said that out of Rs206 crore due towards these private sugar mills, the balance amount of Rs135 crore would also be released shortly through banks by furnishing state guarantee. State Government had approved a soft loan of Rs200 crore for private sugar mills on the state guarantee.
Chief Minister has directed the state Cane Commissioner to hold a joint meeting with the owners of the private sugar mills and the representative of the banks shortly to ensure that the remaining payment is also released to the cane growers without any delay.
The decision came a day after the farmers threatened to intensify their protest against the state government to get their dues from the private sugar mills. They, a day before, gave an ultimatum to the government that if their accepted demands are not implemented by November 10, they would launch a state-wide stir.
Farmers claimed that the state government representatives, including Cane Commissioner Ranjit Singh and the then Agriculture Director Mangal Singh Sandhu, following September 2 protest, gave us a written assurance to fulfil our demands, including getting our pending payments for 2014-15 to the tune of Rs 200 crore cleared, getting all sugar mills started by November 15 and getting entire sugarcane produce lifted by mills in time.
They alleged that so far the government has failed to intervene in the issue and the payments are yet to be paid by private sugar millers.