AMBALA: An official of Haryana state federation of co-operative sugar mills limited (Sugarfed) on Saturday inspected the Naraingarh sugar mill to ascertain the ground situation following instructions from the state government.
A technical advisor (TA) of Haryana Sugarfed namely Saluja during his visit and inspection at Naraingarh sugar mill observed that it will take about 60 days of time to start the operations of the mill if the protesting employees end their strike and start the installation and maintenance work.
Saluja was accompanied by leaders of the farmers and sugar mill employees’ union, who thoroughly inspected the condition of the Naraingarh sugar mill.
He told the farm leaders that the state government in a high-level meeting on Friday had asked him about the technical situation of the Naraingarh sugar mill whether it could be made operational or not. Following this, Saluja sought time to visit the sugar mill and file a report after the inspection and he visited on Saturday.
When contacted and asked about his visit to the Naraingarh sugar mill, Saluja refused to provide details. He said, “I visited the mill and I am not authorised to give any statement. I was sent by the state government.”
“Haryana Sugarfed technical advisor said that the mill’s maintenance has been done very well by the workers but it will take about 60 days of time to start its operation if the workers start installation work today. He said 50 days of time is needed for the installation work and 10 days for completing the trial. He will be submitting his report to the government”, said Ganna Kisan Sangharsh Samiti president Vinod Chauhan.
Vinod said, “The sugar mill workers at Naraingarh are protesting for their increment about (Rs 8 to 10 lakh per month) for the last 13 days now, which was approved by the mill’s board on September 3, 2021. Naraingarh SDM, who is also CEO of this mill claims that the mill is not in a position to give increment to its workers and highlighted the matter with the state cane commissioner, despite the fact that his senior official Ambala deputy commissioner (DC) is chairman of this mill. In 2019 also, a similar situation was faced by this mill, when it was again under the control of Naraingarh SDM and Ambala DC. In 2019, the mill management had itself cleared the increments of the workers. The present SDM is intentionally confusing the matter for delaying it despite when the increment is approved by the mill management. The protesting mill workers had even offered to the officials to clear their pending salaries by adding increment and in future, they can give ones the mill start operation but to no avail.”
Naraingarh SDM Neeraj said, “Haryana Sugarfed technical adviser Mr Saluja said that the mill’s condition is very good but it will take about 50 to 60 days time to start its operation. We are planning to start the mill by November 15 but the workers are on strike for increment which would put an additional burden of about Rs 1 crore on the sugar mill.”
The farm leaders suspect the intention of the state government in running the sugar mill and said that so far, no talks have been opened with them for clearing the pending about Rs 105 crore and the standing sugarcane crop for the upcoming crushing season.
The farm leaders suspect the intention of the state government in running the sugar mill and said that so far, no talks have been opened with them for clearing the pending about Rs 105 crore and the standing sugarcane crop for the upcoming crushing season.
As per a letter written to the Haryana cane commissioner by Naraingarh SDM dated September 17, the Naraingarh sugar mill’s liability is about Rs 86.06 crore, and its assets are worth about Rs 82.95 crore.
About 7,200 farmers of the Ambala region who are associated with this sugar mill are worried about their sugarcane crop for crushing season 2021-22 and they are struggling to ensure that the mill starts its operations as per routine. The farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Charuni) have given a call to confront the Haryana cane commissioner office in Panchkula on September 28, in protest to resolve the issue of the Naraingarh sugar mill.
The farmers told that this mill owes about Rs 105 crore in total to the sugarcane farmers of the Ambala region.
The above news was originally posted on timesofindia.indiatimes.com
