UP cracks the whip on private mills for not paying sugarcane farmers

Leading sugar mills told their assets will be seized if they fail to settle farmers' arrears for the 2017-18 crushing season.

Uttar Pradesh has warned eight leading sugar mills their assets will be seized if they fail to settle farmers’ arrears for the 2017-18 crushing season despite getting a Rs 40 billion soft loan package.

The state’s sugarcane department has issued recovery certificates to eight mills in Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, Hapur, Saharanpur, Badaun, Maharajganj, Basti and Baghpat districts belonging to Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd., Simbhaoli Sugars, Wave Industries, Modi Sugar Mills and other companies.

A recovery certificate empowers district magistrates to seize the movable and immovable properties of sugar mills and auction them to recover farmers' arrears. It’s estimated private millers owe Rs 25