Chandigarh, Mar 26 (UNI) Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded that all pending dues of sugarcane growers be cleared at the earliest, lest it hits the much needed diversification plan and adds to the spurt of farmer suicides in the state. In a letter to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu has pointed out that more than Rs 270 crore was due the sugarcane growers of the state from the nine cooperative sugar mills alone. If the amount due from the private mills and the government departments is added, the figure would be much more, he added.
Mr Sandhu has said that most payments were due to the farmers by the Morinda Cooperative Sugar Mill, which owed them more than Rs 63 crore. He has asked for immediate clearing of all dues, with 15 per cent interest, as is mandatory by Clause 3-A of The Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 if the payments are delayed for more than 14 days.
He has demanded an inquiry into the role of the General Manager of the Morinda Mill for withholding payments. "Another Rs 6.70 crore is due to the farmers of Morinda-Kharar area by the Punjab government for its share of the cane price given to the farmers. If all these dues are not paid, there could be a spurt in farmer suicides," the AAP MLA warned and said that farmers of the area are planning a massive agitation.
Mr Sandhu has demanded that the price of sugarcane be hiked on the pattern of some of the other states. While sugarcane growers in Punjab get Rs 310 per quintal (including subsidy), those in Haryana are paid Rs 330 and in Bihar Rs 340 per quintal. "This is imperative to encourage diversification, especially in the light of area under sugarcane cultivation in Punjab having increased from 90,000 hectares to 96,000 hectares this year," he added.
The AAP MLA said that he has been approached by farmers from the entire area, including Majri and Morinda blocks. "Farmers are also demanding that the sugarcane crushing season be extended till April 15 every year since about 20 per cent of their crop is yet to be harvested but some of the co-operative mills have closed the crushing season.