The State sugarcane development and sugar industry minister Prakash Pant met the officials concerned on Wednesday to assess the quantum of the dues to be paid to the sugarcane growers of the state. While reiterating the state government’s commitment to the cause of the farmers, the minister asked the officials to find out ways to ensure that the dues are promptly paid to the sugarcane growers. He further said that he would not brook any excuse given for any delay in the clearance of the dues.
During the meeting, Pant asked the officials to immediately sell off the available stock of sugar to pay the dues of the sugarcane farmers.
Notably, as per the official sources, due to the tune of Rs 123.90 crore was found pending before the sugar-based industries till March 18 this year. Taking note of it, the minister asked the officials to expedite things so as to help the sugarcane growers with the prompt payment of the dues. “Though the state has been grappling with fund crunch it cannot mean that the growers would remain deprived of their dues for an indefinite period of time. We must have the present stock of sugar sold off to clear their dues. They must not be allowed to come under strain for the upcoming sugarcane season,” he affirmed.
The officials apprised the minister that currently, 834298 quintals of sugar, including 52454 quintals collected in the year 2015-16, are available in the cooperatives and privately run sugar mills.
Notably, Pant had convened a meeting on April 13 with the officials concerned and asked them to take prompt initiatives to clear the due to the sugarcane growers while fixing the next meeting on April 19.
As per the officials, the due was Rs 1052.08 crore for the crushing season 2016-17 while Rs 602.27 crore has already been paid to them and the due now stands at Rs 449.81 crore. It is learnt that acting on the minister’s instruction, Rs 34 crore has been paid over the past five days by way of clearing the sugarcane growers’ due. It is also learnt that the private sugar mills like Iqbalpur sugar mill had had a due to the tune of Rs 182.23 crore. While Rs 57.93 crore has been paid the outstanding is standing at Rs 124.29 crore.