Sugarcane growers yet get their dues form ACSIL

BERHAMPUR (ODISHA): Sugarcane growers in Odisha's Ganjam district claim that they are yet to get their dues from Aska Cooperative Sugar Industries Limited ( ACSIL) even one and a half months after sugarcane crushing.

The government run factory closed sugarcane crushing on April 30 and farmers claim that around Rs 12 crore is due to them.

"The farmers are facing difficulties to meet their day to day expenditure as they are dependant on money they get from sugarcane crops," said general secretary, Ganjam District Sugarcane Growers Association (GDSGA), Samir Pradhan.

The sugarcane growers in the district would be forced to hit the streets, if the factory authorities further delay payment, he threatened. It will be difficult on the part of farmers to go ahead with sugarcane cultivation if there is delay in clearing dues, he said.

The ACSIL, authorities said the dues will be cleared in a week. The state owned Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB) has sanctioned a loan of Rs 25 crore to the ACSIL. The bank has already provided, Rs 15 crore to the factory which had been disbursed among farmers, sources said.

"We will get another Rs ten crore from the bank. As soon as we receive the amount, we will disburse it among farmers," Managing Director of ACSIL, Trilochan Majhi said adding that the factory will bear the rest Rs two crore.