Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst growing speculation over the future of State’s sole sugar factory — Sanjivani, the BJP-led government on Tuesday announced that the industry will not be shut.
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The Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Wednesday, will decide on transferring the factory from the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to the Agriculture Department, for its smooth functioning.
After an inconclusive meeting held with the sugarcane farmers last week, the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Tuesday assured the delegation that the decision whether to run the factory under Agriculture Department or through public private partnership (PPP) will be also taken shortly.
The Chief Minister held a second round of meeting with the farmers, who were assured that Rs 600 per ton assured price to harvested crop and compensation towards the standing crop destroyed would be released.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture Chandrakant Kavlekar and BJP State President Sadanand Tanavade. Cooperation Minister Govind Gaude, however, was not present.
Speaking to the media persons post meeting, Kavlekar said that the Chief Minister has made it clear to the farmers that the government will not close down the Sanjivani sugar factory and that the farmers can continue to grow the sugarcane.
The factory, which has incurred heavy losses, is non-operational since the last two seasons.
“The Chief Minister has made it clear that the factory will not be shut. The proposal would be placed before the Cabinet on Wednesday, to transfer the factory from Cooperative Department to Agriculture Department for smooth functioning,” Kavlekar said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the government is also contemplating whether to run the factory on PPP model or by using Central funds under the agriculture sector.
“Several private players have approached the government as well as the farmers showing interest to run the factory. We would be exploring the option,” he said.
Kavlekar also said that the farmers have been given the option that they can either continue to grow sugarcane or opt for alternate crop. “Till the factory resumes operation, the government will take care of farmers’ crops,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction over government decision, farmers’ leader Rajendra Desai said that the government has assured that factory will not be closed down and that whatever balance payment is pending would be released.
“The factory might commence from the next season,” he said.
Earlier, Minister for Cooperation Govind Gaude had announced that the existing factory would be demolished and a new full-fledged facility at a cost of Rs 100 crore would be built.
