Team Herald
PORVORIM: The State government on Friday informed the House that there is no concrete proposal for upgradation of the Sanjeevani Sugar factory at present; however is exploring options for re-starting the State’s sole sugar factory, which is shut since 2019-20 crushing season. The government has taken on board Pune based Deccan Sugar Technologist Association, a consultant to explore possibility of ethanol production.
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The Goa Legislative Assembly session had to be adjourned twice during the Question Hour on the issue of Sanjivani Sugar factory, with opposition causing uproar demanding an hour long discussion and a concrete reply from the government on re-starting the factory as well as providing compensation to the sugarcane farmers.
The opposition benches led by MGP MLA Ramakrishna Dhavalikar and Independent Prasad Gaonkar created ruckus after Speaker Rajesh Patnekar declined to grant additional time to debate on the Question, as it was already discussed for half an hour. The opposition then rushed to the Well of the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the session, twice.
The Speaker then had a joint meeting with the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture Chandrakant Kavlekar and the opposition. The Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat made a written request to the House for discussion, which Speaker agreed to allow.
Earlier while discussing during the Question Hour, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLA Vijai Sardesai grilled government over their failure to give concrete assurance on future plans to resume the operations of the factory. He also pointed out that government failed to give required compensation to the farmers during the last season.
He also sought to know as what was the need for taking on board a consultant and why is the State government’s facilitation committee headed by a non-sugarcane farmer.
LoP Digambar Kamat also sought to know the status of the factory questioning as when government intends to repair the machinery and put in operation.
Responding to the questions, the Chief Minister informed that the different of opinion and demands with the Sugarcane farmers under banner of Uss Utpadak Sangharsh Samiti (UUSS) and Sugarcane Farmers Association of Goa (SFAG) has delayed the compensation issue.
He said that while the SFAG are demanding compensation at Rs 3000 per MT for Sugarcane for 5 years on basis of highest tonnage received by farmer during last 5 years, the UUSS are asking for Rs 3600 per MT.
“They need to resolve the issue first and only then government can finalize the compensation. We have offered to give those farmers Rs 3000 per MT, which is highest,” Sawant said.
The Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar said that the government is assessing the possibility to restart the sugar mill.
During crushing season 2019-20 the Sugarcane cultivated by farmer has been harvested and transported to the sugar factories in the neighboring States. Similarly during current season, harvesting and transportation of sugarcane transported to the sugar factories in the neighboring States is in process, he said.
Kavlekar said that the government is considering to set up Ethanol Production Plant for which Technical Feasibility Report has been requested from Deccan Sugar Technologist Association, Pune.
“The factory has already initiated activities to cultivate improved varieties of Sugarcane in an area of 5.0 ha on farm attached to it so as to make available the good quality seed during next planting season,” he added.
