Karnal, April 11
Hundreds of sugarcane growers of Piccadily Sugar Mill on Thursday blocked the road near Baidsal village in the Nilokheri block.
They were heading towards NH-44 to block it but a heavy police force stopped them from reaching there.
The farmers alleged the district authorities and the government had failed to find a solution for selling their remaining sugarcane crop after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered closure of the mill. They threatened to continue the stir till the fulfillment of their demand. Tense situation prevailed till the filing of this news as heavy police force was deployed to maintain law and order. SDM Indri Sumit Sihag, along with three DSPs, tried to pacify the farmers, but the former remained adamant on their demand. On the orders of the NGT, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board had sealed the distillery situated inside the mill. After four days, the board authorities reached the mill to seal it as well but farmers forced the authorities not to do so. The board authorities then sealed the mill on April 10. Rampal Chahal, president, Ganna Sangharsh Samiti, said farmers had been protesting since April 2 demanding relaxation of a month to crush the remaining sugarcane which is left in the fields, but neither the authorities nor the government did anything.
“We approached the DC as well as the Minister of State for Food and Supplies Karan Dev Kamboj, but nothing has been done so far, forcing us to block the road. We have also requested for a meeting with the CM so that we can raise our issues, but to no avail,” he said. Later, the farmers lifted the blockade around 10 pm after an assurance by the Deputy Commissioner of resolving the issue by Friday.
NGT directions
On the orders of the NGT, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board had sealed the distillery situated inside the mill. After four days, the board authorities reached the mill to seal it as well but farmers stopped the authorities from doing so. The board authorities then sealed the mill on April 10.