Several teams comprising of senior district officials on Thursday carried out raids and seized huge stocks of sugarcane as part of the Uttar Pradesh government’s drive against middlemen and mafias in the sector.
The state government has decided to act tough against the middlemen -- who are not only fleecing the sugarcane farmers but are also denting the state exchequer. Officials will now book them under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). According to officials in Bijnor -- a hub of sugarcane production-- 10 vigilance teams have been formed to conduct raids and book people involved in such deals.
These middlemen are purchasing sugarcane here at around Rs 250 per quintal against the state supported prices of Rs 325. They later sell the produce to sugar mills in neighbouring districts at huge profit. On Thursday, several teams conducted simultaneous raids in Ravali, Mandawali, Begawala, Mandawar and Dayalwala areas of Bijnor.
However, the middlemen fled from the spot leaving the stocks behind, an official said.
“We raided several places on Thursday to stop illegal purchasing of sugarcane. But middlemen fled from the scene. We have found several heaps of sugarcane at different places. Action will be taken against the touts once they are identified,” said OP Singh, district cane officer.
On the other hand, police and transport officers have also conducted checking operation in the district resulting in the seizure of around ten overloaded tractor trolley.