the goan I network
PONDA
Authorities may have failed to keep their word to start the crushing season by December 5, but sugarcane farmers are hopeful to start the crushing season from December 8 and began harvesting the sugarcane crop from Tuesday.
On November 26, the sugarcane farmers had demonstrated in front of the Sanjeevani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana at Dharbandora to demand the start of the crushing season.
The farmers had raised concerns after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had issued a closure order to Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana for failing to install online continuous monitoring station for effluent and stack emission.
The protesting farmers dispersed only after South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar assured that the factory would be started by December 5, while Registrar of Co-operative Societies Sanijv Gadkar sent a letter stating that the government had agreed to release financial assistance to the sugar factory in the form of share capital for the year 2018-19.
The Registrar of Co-operative Societies Sanijv Gadkar then sent a letter to the sugarcane farmers, regarding the same.
“It is further informed that harvesting of Goa cane will be notified at the end of the (last) week and crushing season will start before December 5,” stated Gadkar’s letter.
The agitating sugarcane farmers have warned the government of intensifying their agitation at Azad Maidan in Panaji if the government fails to honour its assurances.
The Us Utpadak Sanghatana (UUS), a body which has about 1,000 sugarcane farmers affiliated to it, had earlier stated that farmers in the State cultivate around 50,000-60,000 tonnes of sugarcane.
“If this karkhana stops operations, we will encounter problems selling the sugarcane,” feared UUS President Rajendra Desai.
When contacted, Desai said the karkhana has taken measures to install the required monitoring system to check pollution.
“We had a meeting with officials and they have assured to start the crushing season by December 8. As such, farmers from Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem and Dharbandora have begun harvesting the sugarcane,” said Desai.
“I have not got a report from North Goa as yet. But we have started harvesting the sugarcane and it is expected to reach the karkhana by Tuesday night,” he said.
According to Desai, the sugarcane expected to reach the karkhana will be registered and the karkhana will be bound to pay them, even if the crushing season is delayed.
Despite efforts, the Sanjeevani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana administrator Damodar Morajkar could not be contacted for comments in the matter.
