Belagavi: The state government has not solved the crisis faced by sugarcane growers though the arrears owed by sugar factories has spiralled to Rs 4,200 crores, K Shanthkumar, president, Sugarcane Growers Association, said on Wednesday.
He told the media here: “It is unfortunate that the Centre and state government are passing the buck when it comes to taking the responsibility of resolving the crisis. Caught in this tussle are cane growers who have invested heavily on cultivation of sugarcane over the last two years without getting their dues.” Slamming sugar minister for failing to come up with alternatives to resolve the crisis, he said the minister’s recent statement that cane growers must cultivate alternative crop was silly.
Urging the state government to market unsold sugar of more than 60 lakh tonnes piled up in factories since last year as part of a strategy to settle the arrears of growers, he said the stock could be marketed through fair price shops. Sugarcane growers are being tortured by political leaders who own sugar factories, he added.
He appealed to Members of Parliament to exert pressure on the Union government to secure permission for production of ethanol directly from sugarcane so as to overcome the crisis, and help growers get at least Rs 3,000 per tonne of sugarcane.
