Four sugar mills in Pilibhit district have arrears of sugarcane payment to the tune of Rs 343.36 crore for the crushing period of 2014-15 , reports Times of India.
Cane farmers are accusing the state government of negligence in safeguarding their rights and interests, especially when other crops have vastly been decimated by the untimely rains and the hailstorm.
According to district cane officer Rajeshwar Yadav said as per the latest directives of the state administration, the payment of dues has been scheduled to be made by sugar mills in two parts.
The Kisan Cooperative Sugar Mill at Bisalpur has total arrears to the tune of Rs 41.20 crore of which Rs 30.38 crore have to be cleared off by the assigned deadline of time and the Kisan Cooperative Sugar Mill at Puranpur has the lowest arrears worth Rs 34.70 crore with compulsion of making interim payment to sugarcane growers to the tune of rupees Rs 26.23 crore.
The DCO said in compliance with the directions of Allahabad high court, the sugar mills were bound to make payment of sugarcane value to cane growers within 14 days commencing from the date of physical supply of sugarcane to mill by farmers. In case of delay in payment, the mills have been imposed a compulsion by the high court to pay interest at the rate of 15% on the delayed period.