Karnataka - Bangalore   

Sugar cooperatives directed to pay arrears

BANGALORE: The State Government has directed all cooperative sugar units to soon clear arrears of Rs. 142 crore to sugarcane growers.

Addressing presspersons after attending a meeting chaired by Governor Rameshwar Thakur here on Monday, Chief Secretary P.B. Mahishi said all private sugar factories had cleared dues to growers. Cooperative sugar units had been instructed to clear pending dues of the last season in a few days, he said.

The Governor held two rounds of talks with his three advisers, Principal Secretary A.K.M. Nayak, and officials of the Finance Department on Monday. The meeting did not take a decision on the price to be paid by the sugar factories. The growers had been demanding Rs. 1,200 a tonne of sugarcane against the Minimum Support Price of Rs. 811 fixed by the Centre. The factories had paid Rs. 1,100 a tonne last season, the Chief Secretary said. The Governor on Friday decided to come out with a comprehensive package in 10 days to address the problems faced by sugarcane growers.

The sugar units, which were expected to submit their proposal to the Government on Monday, would submit the same on Thursday. Only after studying various demands made by the factories, the Government would announce the price for sugarcane. The demands of the sugar units included financial support and permission to transport molasses outside the State, he said. The Governor has directed the officials of the Department of Industries to visit Mysore Sugars factory in Mandya to take steps to commence crushing of cane soon, the Chief Secretary said. Leaders of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and other farmers’ organisations held a rally on Friday and urged the Governor to announce a comprehensive package for sugarcane growers.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Weavers’ support
Kalam coming
NICE: BWSSB defends refusal to shift water line
Advani may hold talks with Prakash
Sugar cooperatives directed to pay arrears
Sirsi jaatre from March 18
Appointed
Boy drowns
BJP to hold Muslims’ convention in February
David Baltimore’s lecture in city tomorrow
Car procession taken out
Plea adjourned
KERC order may be challenged
KPSC exam next month
Threat to Vatal
Bangalore Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu