SANGUEM
Upset over the government’s failure to honour its promise of starting an ethanol plant at the Sanjivani Sugar Factory at Dharbandora, the Sugarcane Farmers Association of Goa began an indefinite strike at Dharbandora.
The protesting sugarcane farmers had demanded the immediate operation of either the Sanjivani Sugar Factory or an ethanol plant.
The farmers association has threatened to intensify their agitation if the government fails to consider their demand as the time limit set for compensation to the sugarcane farmers in lieu of the closure of Sanjivani Sugar Factory.
Speaking at the agitation, President of Gomantak Uss Utpadak Sanghatna Rajendra Dessai accused the government of ignoring their demands and taking the farmers for granted.
“It is highly prejudicial that despite having assured the installation of ethanol plant within five years of the closure of the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, the government has failed to move an inch towards setting up of the ethanol plant,” claimed Dessai.
Another farmer, Francisco Mascarenhas, informed that when the government had formed the facilitation committee after the closure of Sanjivani Sugar Factory, it had assured that the ethanol plant would be set up within three years.
“Almost four years have passed but nothing concrete is coming up from the government’s side,” added Mascarenhas.
Gomantak Uss Utpadak Sanghatna Vice President Harshad Prabhudessai informed that the period of three years set for compensation to the sugarcane farmers ends next year.
“When the government had announced payment of compensation, it was assured that the ethanol plant would be set up within three years and that the farmers would be in a position to continue with sugarcane production as usual. However, with no sign of the ethanol plant seeing the light of the day, the farmers have been left high and dry,” claimed Prabhudessai.
Raghunath Dada Patil, President of Farmers Association from Maharashtra, also visited the agitation site and assured full support and cooperation to the agitating farmers.
Patil informed that if need be farmers from Maharashtra will come down to Goa and support the agitating farmers in large numbers.
RG MLA Viresh Borkar and GPCC President Amit Patkar also visited the striking farmers and assured their support in their agitation.
