Reported by Timesofindia.indiatimes.com on Jul 26, 2012
Punjab told to pay dues to sugarcane farmers - The Times of India

CHANDIGARH: Around eight sugar mills in Punjab are yet to pay around Rs 100 crore to farmers for the sugarcane received by them in the past one year. Taking strict note of the issue, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday directed the secretary, cooperative department, Punjab, to pay the balance amount owed by the sugar mills by August 9.

Issuing the directions, a division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh also made it clear that authorities can sell these sugar mills to make payment to farmers, if required. Payment to farmers has to be made in presence of cane commissioner.

The orders came on a writ petition filed by Consortium of Indian Farmers' Association, which alleged that due to negligence by the state government and lack of any policy for sugarcane farmers in the state, no payment was made to them during the entire year, resulting in economic and social hardships to farmers.

As per information procured under Right to Information (RTI) Act by the petitioner organization, eight sugar mills -- Gurdaspur Cooperative Sugar Mill (Rs 16.16 crore), Batala Cooperative Sugar Mill (Rs 38 crore), Bhogpur Cooperative Sugar Mill (Rs 7.99 crore), Nakodar Cooperative Sugar Mill (Rs 11.28 crore), Fazilka Cooperative Sugar Mill (Rs 11.44 crore), Budewal Cooperative Sugar Mill (Rs 1.5 crore), Ajnala Cooperative Sugar Mill (Rs 13.70 crore) and Morinda Cooperative Sugar Mill (Rs 18.96 crore) -- were yet to make payment to farmers. HC has directed the state government to release Rs 93.11 crore to farmers by August 9, when the case has been fixed for further hearing.