Uus Utpadak Samiti to stage peaceful agitation at Sanguem from Jan 2

Addressing a news conference at Sanguem on Thursday, the Samiti Vice Chairman Chandan Unandkar said they would not withdraw the agitation till the State government gave a written assurance on the payment of compensation to sugarcane farmers.

“A memorandum was submitted to the government on December 23, with a 10-day deadline to reply to our demands but the government did not respond,” said Chandan Unandkar.

“The government has not fulfilled its assurances to sugarcane cultivators and has been changing its position every time. We are left with no option but to stage an agitation to be attended by farmers all over the State.”

Unandkar appealed to politicians cutting across party lines to support their agitation.

The Samiti Chairman Kushta Gaonkar assured that their agitation would be peaceful.

“We will seek the blessing of Lord Paikdev before starting the agitation and we will not withdraw the agitation till the State government gives us a written assurance regarding payment of compensation at the rate of Rs 3,600 per ton for the standing crop till the Sanjivani Sugar Factory is restarted,” said Gaonkar.

“The compensation will be based on the highest average of sugarcane supplied by individual farmer to the sugarcane factory in the last 10 years.”

“We also appeal to the government to immediately pay the balance of Rs 600 per tonne of sugarcane supplied by farmers last year, as they are in distress and mental tension due to the delay in payment,” he added.

The press briefing was also attended by committee members Babulo Gaonkar and Satan Rodrigues.

Incidentally, the sugarcane cultivators have alleged that the association 'Shetkari Sanghatna' has been siding with the government and as a result, they have formed a new committee ‘Uu Utpadak Sangarsh Samiti’.