Pune: Cane farmers in Maharashtra took to the streets on Thursday seeking arrears for the sugar season of 2011-12.
The police detained about 500 of them, who were marching towards the residence of state cooperation minister, Harshawardhan Patil. The minister later promised that the matter would be resolved within a month.
Raghunath Patil, president of Shetkari Sanghatana, which had called the agitation, said the state government had not kept its word after agreeing to three different rates for different regions ranging between R1,800 and R2,050 per tonne towards the first installment of cane payments to farmers by sugar mills in Maharashtra.
“Sugar mills in the state owe farmers Rs 371 crore in dues. However, farmers are yet to receive payments. Payments are due from 51 sugar cooperatives and 11 private mills,” he told FE. Last year, the state government had agreed to these rates after a prolonged agitation by farmers.
Harshawardhan had at that time said the state government had agreed to a rate of Rs 2,050 per tonne as the first advance for mills in Sangli, Kolhapur and Satara; Rs 1,850 per tonne for mills in Pune, Ahmednagar and Solapur; and Rs 1,800 per tonne for the rest of the mills in the state.
The minister said the government had taken up the matter with several factories; and out of 171 mills, around 140 mills have made cane payments to farmers. Of the remaining 31-odd factories that still have to make payments, some 11 mills have been given a 15-day deadline to clear dues, while show cause notices will be issued to another 11 mills for not making payments, he said. There are around 9 mills that are in bad financial condition, he pointed out. The minister said that arrears were only to the tune of R35 crore.
According to Raghunath, the sugar season had ended in March this year, and as per the Sugarcane Control Act, 1966, cane payments should be made within 14 days of the closure of the mills.
Although three months have passed, farmers are yet to receive payments from these mills, he said. The minister also said that the farmers from Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur and Ahmednagar, who wanted to participate in the procession, were not allowed to enter the city.