Shamli: The three sugar mills in Shamli district—Shamli, Unn, and Thanabhawan—are facing mounting pressure as they collectively owe Rs. 437.57 crore in unpaid sugarcane dues, including both recent and old payments, reports Amar Ujala.
The Shamli mill alone owes Rs. 214 crore from the 2022-23 crushing season. Officials from Shamli mill, have promised that the overdue Rs. 214 crore will be paid to farmers by September 21. However, farmer organizations have issued a warning that if the payment is not made by September 22, they will stage protests.
As per media report, the overdue amount of Shamli mill for 2023-24 is Rs 12 crore, that of Thanabhawan mill is Rs 147 crore, and that of Unn mill dues is Rs 64.7 crore. Such huge arrears from the last season, the maximum share of which was contributed by the Shamli mill amounting to Rs 214 crore, made farmers restless, demanding immediate payment. The promising officials of Triveni Group, in a joint meeting with representatives of the farmers and sub-district administration offices, expressed confidence that the new dues of farmers will be settled by August 31 and that old dues for the 2022-23 season will be settled by September 21.
The district cane officer remarked that the Shamli mill was making bank applications in the jaggery dues of the 2022-23 season. “This mill has Rs 12 crore total dues for the current 2023-24 season pending, and full payment was due by August 31. Farmer leaders Sanjeev Lilon and Amit Kumar Malik have threatened that if the Shamli mill does not clear the pending amount of Rs 214 crore before September 22, they will launch a protest against it.”.