Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday issued recovery certificates (RCs) against 19 sugar mills for not expediting dues payable to sugarcane farmers.

State cane commissioner Subhash Chandra Sharma issued the RCs along with interest worth Rs 2,777.97 crore to the companies, an official release said.

Earlier, RCs were issued against 17 mills for delaying payment of cane price amounted to Rs 1,674.09 crore, including interest.

With the decision, RCs have been issued against 36 sugar mills, he said, adding that after monitoring of payment done by sugar mills so far, action was being taken against those making lowest payment.

Sharma said if the other sugar mills fail to make required progress in next two days then legal action would be taken against them.

He said that directives have been issued by the government that the district magistrates should take timely action against the sugar mills against whom RCs had been issued.