Sugarcane dept issues notice to 6 mills in Bijnor for delayed payments to farmers

Bijnor: The sugarcane department has issued notices to 6 out of 9 sugar mills in Bijnor for non-payment of sugarcane dues to over a lakh farmers. These mills have held back the dues over 500 crores, which ther farmers were supposed to receive in May.
Sugarcane department has given the mills a deadline of 15 days to pay the dues or else face action from the government.The notice came a day after TOI reported how 119 sugar mills across UP owe Rs 7000 crore to 45 lakh farmers across the state. The official from the concerned department said that notices in this regard have been issued in almost every district. According to officials, Bundaki and Bahadarpur sugar mills have have paid 100% dues in time.
According to Bijnor cane officer Yashpal Singh, "Bijnor has nine sugar mills, out of which, two have made 100% payment of current financial year, while one has paid 95.5 percent. We have served notices to six sugar units including Bilai, Barkatpur, Bijnor, Chandpur, Seohara and Najibabad and asked them to clear all dues immediately. However, we will wait for 15 days after which, if they fail to pay, action will be taken."
According to authorities, Bijnor's sugar units owe Rs 566 crore to farmers. The six mills that have been served notices are associated with over 2 lakh farmers. Notably, with the apathetic attitude of sugar owners, agrarians are facing financial difficulties.