Khanduri announces Rs 56.3 cr to settle dues

BUSY DAY FOR SUGAR INDUSTRY

Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri on Wednesday announced a package of Rs 56.3 crore for settling the sugarcane dues of farmers in the state.

Khanduri’s announcement came in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent order, which has set Rs 110 per quintal as the interim price for the sugarcane.

However, Khanduri took strong exception of two private mills – Uttam Sugar Mill and Luxor Sugar Mill, which he said have not settled the dues of farmers. In this regard, Khanduri said his government is waiting for the October 6 deadline set by the Supreme Court for settling the dues of farmers. “We will wait till Oct 6. In case, the two mills failed to settle the dues, we will take strong action against them that includes confiscation of their property,” he said.

Last year, the government issued a package of Rs 72 crores to settle the dues of farmers.

Significantly, Sugarcane Minister Madan Kaushik told Business Standard that the two private sugarmills owe a sum of Rs 40 crore as dues of farmers.

Meanwhile, officials said the government would settle the remaining dues of farmers before the start of the new crushing season in November.