PONDA: Co-operation Minister Govind Gaude on Thursday assured the Sanjivani sugar factory farmers that their outstanding bills towards supply of sugarcane to Karnataka-based factory upto January 31 will be cleared by Goa Government through its own funds by May 10.
“It is possible to clear at least 50 percent of the bill amount immediately,” he said and at the same time attributed the delay in clearing bills to the lockdown.
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It is learnt that Goan farmers had supplied over 27,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane to Karnataka-based Laila Factory. However, the farmers have been paid only 20 percent of the total bill amount while 80 percent bills have not been cleared as yet, which has left the farmers worried as to how will they be able to clear their loans and cultivate sugarcane for next crushing season to earn their livelihood.
Replying to a question on farmers pending bills and their problems, Gaude said, “Farmers cannot get the money as their bills have not been cleared by Laila Factory in Karnataka and this may be delayed due to the lockdown, which has affected the entire world. However, considering hardship of Goan sugarcane farmers , Gaude informed that he discussed the pending bill issue with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant after which the state government has now decided to clear the bill amount through its own fund within week or by May 10 and later adjust the amount after Laila Factory clears the same.
He said the Sanjivani administration has sought details of bills towards sugarcane supplied to Karnataka to expedite the matter.
Gaude recalled that the government before sending sugarcane to the Karnataka factory had convened a meeting with farmers and had assured to buy their sugarcane produce by sending it to Laila Factory as the government had cancelled the crushing season at Sanjivani factory.
He also assured to provide compensation to the farmers whose sugarcane could not be harvested and sent to Laila Factory due to shortage of labourers following the lockdown. He said around 1600 metric tonnes could not be harvested due to the lockdown.
