Sangrur, February 21
Dissatisfied with the offer of Rs 1 crore as daily payment by the Sangrur administration, sugarcane growers have refused to lift their blockade from the Babbanpur canal bridge on the Sangrur-Ludhiana stretch till the overall pending amount of Rs 58.50 crore is released. Their protest continued for the third day on Thursday.
Meetings of Sangrur administration officials with protesters failed to yield any result.
Demanding the release of Rs 58.50 crore, out of which Rs 10 crore is pending towards the state government, for the last two years, farmers under the banner of Ganna Sangharsh Committee, has blocked the Sangrur-Ludhiana road on the Babbanpur canal bridge from Tuesday.
Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said they had been trying their best for the early release of payment.
“Out of the total payment of Rs 58.50 crore, only Rs 10 crore is pending towards the state government. The rest is to be given by sugar mill authorities. We spoke to the mill authorities today. They have agreed to release Rs 1 crore daily. I also spoke to Vishavjit Khanna, additional chief secretary, cooperation, for the early release of Rs 10 crore from the government, the DC said.