Cane growers plan protest to demand arrears payment

Upset over the silence of the government on the issue, the cane growers have decided to launch a series of protests in both the districts.

According to the farmers, both the mills, subsidiaries of Tamil Nadu Sugar Corporation Limited (TASCO), have shown less growth as the farmers have not been disbursed their dues for the past year which has shrunk the area of cane cultivation. 

Farmers have also switched to some other crops or works. Both the mills have been initiated to undergo modernisation in June 2010 with which an 18 mw cogeneration power plant using the biomass generated by the mills were set up. 

However, the project had been put on hold for the past six years and this resulted in snags in crushing machines due to failure in maintaining them. 

Despite the FRP for Perambalur mills was fixed at Rs 2,300 and SAP of Rs 550, including Rs 100 for transportation, the government is yet to disburse an amount of Rs 33 crore to 5,071 farmers, who cultivate sugarcane in an area of 12,250 acres in Perambalur. 

In Thanjavur Arignar Anna Sugar Mills Rs 42 crore is due to be paid to farmers who raise cane in an area of 12,000 acre land. 

According to R Raja Chidambaram, state secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, the sugar mills will get a fresh lease of life only when the state government implements the project which was announced in 2010. 

“Meanwhile, due to failure in disbursement of the money to farmers, many have switched to other works which resulted in fall in cane coverage area. We have been fighting for a long time to get the arrear. Since, there has been no positive response from the government, we have planned to stage a series of protest in Perambalur and Thanjavur,” Raja Chidambaram said. 

He also said that the state government should be keen on developing such mills on a priority basis.