Baheri: Farmers’ representatives decided to not supply sugarcane to Kesar Sugar Mill. The announcement was made at the annual general meeting of the Cooperative Cane Development Committee, held at a banquet hall on Nainital Road on Thursday.Instead, the board cleared the way for allocating cane purchase centres to other sugar mills, reported Amar Ujala.
The decision comes as Kesar Sugar Mill owes farmers of the region ₹166 crore in unpaid cane dues. During the meeting, the board chairman, directors, and delegate members demanded the secretary’s intervention to ensure pending payments. Later, discussions turned to allotting purchase centres. Members unanimously proposed that mills in Meerganj, Pilibhit, Sitarganj, Faridpur, and Bahadurpur be given the centres. They also suggested that 25 new centres be set up in nearby areas for the cane that normally goes to Kesar Mill’s gate.
Kesar Mill’s General Manager, Ravindra Singh, assured that ₹100 crore would be paid by mid-October. His statement triggered protests from farmers, leading Cane Committee Chairman Raju Gangwar to announce the end of the meeting.
Local MP Chhatrapal Singh accused the mill management of cheating farmers and said the board should submit its report to the Cane Commissioner and the state government. He questioned why other mills could make profits from cane while Kesar Mill claimed losses. He added that 14.5 hectares of Kesar Mill’s land in Muria Mukarrampur was under auction, and a caveat had been filed in the High Court to prevent the management from obstructing the process.
Former director Chaudhary Vinod Singh raised objections over not inviting Union Minister Jitin Prasada to the meeting. MP Singh responded that Prasada was busy in Delhi due to the Vice-Presidential election, and questioned why the local MLA did not attend. Former chairman Kendrapal Singh claimed the MLA had not been invited, sparking a heated exchange between him and the MP.
heri: SP MLA Ataur Rahman countered the criticism, saying the BJP has been in power for eight years but still blames the Samajwadi Party. He alleged that when MP Chhatrapal Singh was an MLA from the ruling party, he never raised the issue of cane dues in the assembly. Rahman said he has consistently raised farmers’ issues in every session. He added that since Nawabganj is within Bareilly MP’s constituency, Singh should also address farmers’ problems there. He pointed out that Oswal Sugar Mill also owes farmers significant dues. Rahman said he did not attend the meeting as he was not invited.
Farmers Vow Not to Supply Cane to Oswal, Bajaj Mills
Nawabganj: In another annual general body meeting of the Cooperative Cane Development Committee, farmers declared they would not supply cane to Oswal and Bajaj sugar mills.
The meeting was inaugurated by local MLA Dr. M.P. Arya and Cane Chairman Nirbhay Gangwar. During discussions, delegates and directors raised the issue of unpaid dues in front of officials and public representatives. Angered farmers then announced they would completely stop supplies to the two mills. MLA Arya intervened to calm the farmers and assured them that their demands would be conveyed to authorities.
Farmers remain upset over pending payments from as far back as 2013 and for the 2024–25 season. Arya assured them that efforts would be made to resolve the matter, while Chairman Nirbhay Gangwar also pledged support.
Committee secretary Megha Chaturvedi and several local leaders, including Natthulal Arya, Ganesh Prasad, Lal Bahadur Gangwar, former chief Vinod Diwakar, Lalta Prasad, Surbheek Gangwar, and Bhanu Gangwar, were present at the meeting.
