Six private sugar mills owners on Tuesday announced the dates when they would start the crushing process, even as two mills started operations, after the standoff with the government on cane price ended.
Two sugar mills have already started the crushing process, whereas the remaining six have announced that they will start before the week ends, district coordination officer Rajeshwer Yadav said.
Ending a week-long impasse over cane prices, private sugar mill owners in UP on Sunday agreed to start crushing at the rate of R280 per quintal, but maintained that the current pricing is "unviable".
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), which has rejected the compromise between the government and the mill owners, continued its protest outside the district magistrate's office for the seventh day on Tuesday.
BKU activists said they would hold a demonstration on December 5 in different parts of western UP to press for dues to be paid to farmers. BKU chief Naresh Tikait appealed to farmers not to supply sugarcane to the mills till their demands are met.
Meanwhile, a case was registered against 10 Rash-triya Lok Dal activists, including district chief Sanjay Rathi, for allegedly blocking roads in Mansoo-rpur area, the police said. The activists were dema-nding that crushing season at mills must begin on time so that farmers can realise proper prices.