Bijnor: Mounting cane crushing dues of over Rs 10,000 crore belie the tall claims of imminent aid from central government to cane farmers, who have been on an endless wait to receive their arrears. The claim was reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Kisan Kalyan rally in Shahjahanpur on Saturday. Farmers claim that although in May the Centre had promised Rs 5.5 more per quintal for sugarcane farmers, they have not received a paisa in their account. Further, the central government is yet to respond on states’ demand for increasing the quota of sugar the mills can sell.The PM on Saturday tried to woo farmers by talking about the measures taken by his government for them. He said sugarcane dues would be cleared soon. Farmers, however, remain skeptical.Talking to TOI, AK Singh, administrative officer at Bijnor mill said, “The central government had announced in May that Rs 5.5 more per quintal will be given to the farmers for clearing their dues. It was a subsidy for the sugar industry but money was to be transferred to the bank account of farmers directly. All mills had prepared the records of dues and farmers name and provided it to sugarcane societies as money was given through the channel of cane department and sugarcane societies. So far, not a single paisa has been given to the farmers by the government.”Singh added, “Ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution had issued notification on May 9, 2018 in this connection. We have also received a copy of the notification. The government had put many riders in the scheme. However, process is going on.”On the other hand, national convenor of Azad Kisan Union, Rajendra Singh said, “The Centre is not paying attention to the problems of sugarcane farmers. Two months ago, the government had announced that stipulated money as sugarcane dues will be sent into the bank accounts of farmers, but this has not happened. Besides, the government is representing this assistance as subsidy to farmers but actually it is subsidy only to sugar mills.”Talking to TOI, a senior cane officer who did not wish to be named said, “The state sugarcane authority had written to the central government to increase the quota of sugar that mills in UP can sell to 10 lakh tonnes per month in view of the pending dues of farmers. But the quota was not increased.”“According to the quota fixed by the central government, mills in the state can sell sugar worth Rs 1,650 crore every month, thereby making it all the more difficult for the them to pay dues to farmers,” the officer added.

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