Following an intense agitation by sugarcane grower farmers demanding Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) arrears, Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad announced that stringent action would be taken against defaulting sugar mills.
Sugarcane farmers in Maharashtra had intensified their agitation by starting a sit-in dharna at the State Sugar Commissioner’s office in Pune on Monday. After rounds of discussions, Sugar Commissioner Gaikwad met farmer leaders late on Monday night and handed over a letter assuring action against defaulting mills.
According to the Sugar Commissioner’s Office, 39 mills that have not paid even 25 per cent of FRP will face immediate action while other sugar mill owners will be summoned for an explanation. Once the Sugar Commissioner issues an order to initiate action, District Collectors can seize the sugar stock in mills and auction it in the market to pay dues to farmers. Farmers have suspended their agitation after the State’s assurance.
However, action against sugar mills is likely to create a major political conflict as majority of sugar mills in the State are run by political bigwigs across party lines.
Sugar mills have not paid FRP worth ₹5,300 crore to sugarcane farmers in the State while farmers are demanding FRP in one go, per the Sugar Control Order.
Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana MP Raju Shetti said that farmers will wait for the action against sugar mills and farmers will re-start their agitation if the State government fails to keep its promise.