Ponda: The farmers protesting in the meeting alleged that it is the negligence of Government and mismanagement by administrators for past several decades that led to its only sugar factory suffering losses and affecting livelihood of farmers. The farmers said the factory is operated on machinery that is several decades old and many times its stops functioning as it becomes difficult to get its parts.
The farmers gathered from all over Goa alleged the sheer negligence by the government for the last forty years has resulted in the factory facing losses. Over the years several MDs appointed to oversee cleared the files without any guidance of government and its ministers. This factory is totally facing losses
Earlier the panic gripped farmers expressed strong resentment over notice by CPCB to close the factory that runs for just 100 to 110 days. Why is there so much of hype of pollution by Sanjeevani when there are several Units like MRF causing heavy pollution in Goa. The farmers said by growing sugarcane in almost 40,000 hectres area they are actually helping environment protection. This sugar cane trees per hectare consumes 2 kg of Carbondioxide helping to improve environment. The farmers also complained that they are not getting water for sugarcane growth which needs for 8 to 9 months. The farmers demanded that the Factor be handed over to Farmers to operate it successfully. They said there are 200 Sugar Factories in Maharashtra running in profit whereas Government of Goa can’t even manage its only Sugar Factory. Now time has come to handover it to farmers for its management. Sebestave Juze Simous from Sanguem said he took a loan of Rs 2.5 lakh for cultivation of sugarcane with the hope that at the time of harvest he would be able to clear his loans.
