Bijnor: Despite the state government’s declared intent of reviving defunct and old sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh, the mill owners continue to cause alarm among cane farmers of west UP. Two mills in Bijnor , owned by the Chaddha group, have suspended all their employees after the end of the crushing season. Panic gripped both workers and farmers, with the latter alleging the mills owners want to shut down operations permanently.The employees said that renovation at the mills usually follows the end of the crushing season but has not happened this time, indicating the mills might not be re-opened.According to sources, the owners of these mills have decided to wind up operations and have sent a letter to the government in this regard.Amidst rumours, Bijnor and Chandpur sugar mills have dismissed their technical, production and sugarcane development staff and officials.According to the sugarcane department, Bijnor mill owes Rs 40 crore while Chandpur mill owes Rs 58 crore to sugarcane farmers.On being asked about the matter, administrative officer of Bijnor sugar factory, AK Singh, said, “It is true that most of the officers and workers have been removed. The owners had asked a loan of Rs 6 crore from a cooperative bank to pay the salary of workers, but the bank denied.”“The Chaddha group has sent a letter to the government that it is willing to return these mills. It has asked the government to return its money and also pay for the cost of construction work at the mills,” Singh said.Farmers on Wednesday raised the issue before additional district magistrate Avdesh Mishra and district cane officer Yashpal Singh and said that if the mills are close and their dues aren’t settled, they will launch an agitation. District president of BKU, Digambar Singh said, “We will launch an agitation after June 30 if the farmers’ demands are not met.”Meanwhile, ADM Avdhesh Mishra assured farmers that he will look into the matter and also ordered an inquiry.

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