SANGUEM
Upset with the government for failing to provide clarity on the status of the Sanjivani Sugar Factory at Usgao, a large number of sugarcane cultivators gathered in Sanguem and gave a 15-day deadline to the government demanding compensation of Rs 3,600 per tonne for their crop in the coming season.
They also demanded in writing from the government on whether it would revive or shut down the sugar factory.At a meeting in the Temple Mandap at Wadem Colony 1 in Sanguem, a sugarcane cultivator, HarshadPrabhudesssai, criticised the government for lowering the morale of the farmers, instead of giving them a boost.
Prabhudessai claimed that on account of the government’s inordinate delay in paying compensation to sugarcane cultivators, the farmers had been put into severe stress as they were unable to pay loans availed for the sugarcane cultivation.
“Interest on our loans keeps increasing and this has caused severe anxiety among sugarcane farmers,” said Prabhudessai, who has several hectares of land under sugarcane cultivation.
Another farmer, Sanjay Kurdikar, said it was most unfortunate that sugarcane cultivators had to agitate on every occasion to demand their dues from the government.
Chairperson of Kurdi VKSS Society AyetinMascarenhas said the government must come out with a clear-cut decision on the future of the Sanjivani Sugar Factory.
Mascarenhas also said the government must come out with a concrete solution on compensation to the cultivators for the forthcoming harvesting season, as it would not be possible to harvest the crop during the season in November due to non-availability of the workforce which has to be brought from other states.
At the end of the meeting, ChandanUnandkar proposed a memorandum to the government demanding payment of compensation at the rate of Rs 3,600 per tonne for the sugarcane crop.
He also demanded a written assurance from the government on the status of the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, adding that if the government decided to close the factory in the future it should pay a lump sum compensation of 10 years to sugarcane cultivators in the State.
The proposal was unanimously accepted by all farmers present at the meeting.
Other speakers at the meeting included KushtaGaonkar, ManojParyekar and KamlakantKurdikar.
