Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat asks sugar mills to clear 50% dues to farmers

DEHRADUN: Expressing concern over the delay in payment of dues to sugarcane growers, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today asked management of sugar mills to speed up the process and clear at least 50 per cent of the remaining dues by the end of this month.

Reviewing the status of dues yet to be paid to sugarcane growers at a meeting here, Rawat asked the mills to treat it as a priority and ensure that at least 50 per cent of the dues they owe to farmers are cleared by June 30.

The Centre has sanctioned a package of Rs 6000 crore to help sugar mills clear the dues they owe to farmers all over the country but the mills can avail the package only on the condition that they clear at least 50 per cent of the remaining dues on their own by June 30 this year.

On being informed by Sugarcane Development Secretary Vinod Sharma that some of the sugar mills have so far paid only 22 per cent of the dues to farmers, the Chief Minister said they should be asked to expedite and meet the deadline for clearance of 50 per cent of the dues.

Rawat also sought a detailed action plan from officials for the modernisation of Doiwala, Bajpur, Nadei and Kichcha sugar mills and assured private sugar mills of help in getting a guaranteed bank loan if they come forward for modernisation.

He was informed that while proposals for modernisation of Nadei and Bajpur sugar mills have already been forwarded for approval, those for modernisation of Doiwala and Kichcha will be submitted in a week.