Team Herald
PONDA: Minister for Co-operatives Govind Gaude said on Tuesday that the government is making all the efforts to commence next sugarcane crushing season in November.
The minister was speaking after inspecting the Sanjeevani Sugar Factory. He was accompanied by the technical staff, engineers and workers.
On the occasion, Gaude said, “Government is bound to protect the interest of all stakeholders including the workers and sugarcane farmers.”
He said that with the government making all efforts to commence crushing, he was positive that the next season would start in November. The minister also heard the grievances of the employees and technical staff. To prepare for the next crushing season, he said that he has arranged a meeting with all the stakeholders.
“The meeting will be attended by Deputy Chief Minister Babu Kavlekar (holding agriculture portfolio), PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar, Sanjeevani Sugarcane Farmers Association and employees of the factory,” he said.
He also assured the issue of pending salaries would be resolved soon.
“I have inspected the factory machinery and from my observation, I feel that there will not be any difficulty in running the machinery temporarily for next crushing season in November. We can carry out crushing even for the next two seasons with this machinery,” he said.
“However, since the machinery is old, I will take care of the safety aspect before starting the crushing season,” he added.
He said, “At any cost decision of the Government would not go against workers, and farmers.”
On the requirement of spare parts and repairing the machinery, the minister said that on the same is expected next week.
“I will also take stock of the availability and requirement of sugarcane from the farmers for the next crushing season starting in November,” he said and informed that he has directed the Administrator to take the necessary steps to carry out the repairs of factory well before commencement of crushing season.
On the occasion, the minister appealed to the workers and staff to work dedicatedly, if they want to improve the administration.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar assured the farmers that the government would commence the next season and that they need not worry about it.
Sanjeevani Employees Union President Puti Gaonkar brought to the notice of minister about the rising theft in factory, security aspect and demanded improvement in Administration.
