Yogi Adityanath asks sugar mills to clear farmers dues in 14 days

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government today asked sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers within next 14 days while assuring their delegation that it will give all facilities to establish new mills in the state.

"Over 95 per cent of cane dues of last three crushing seasons have been cleared by sugar mills. The mills which have not made payments should clear the dues in next 14 days," Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said while meeting a delegation of UP sugar mills association.

Adityanath assured them that the government will give all facilities for opening new mills so that farmers could be benefited and employment opportunities be generated.

Hinting at changing cane price fixation process, he said that Maharashtra and Karnataka should be studied and their decisions favourable for farmers should be implemented in Uttar Pradesh also.

He said that besides establishment of new mills, emphasis should be made to increase capacity of existing ones.

On sugar mills of state sold in 2011, Adityanath said that these mills have not started operation yet and it was a matter of concern and farmers were facing problems due to this.

"Our government will take action if they did not start functioning," he said.

The chief minister had earlier directed all the 116 sugar mills operating in the state to adopt a village every year and try to make it a model village.