Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government will set up a co-ordination committee between four departments to oversee the issues faced by sugarcane farmers, which have led to drop in production.
Dy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar chaired a meeting of four department ministers and officials.
WRD Minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar and Co-operation Minister Govind Gaude, and Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar were also present for the meeting.
“The meeting was to look into the reasons behind sugarcane production levels dropping each year. Earlier, we used to get a produce of 100 tonnes, which has now come down to 25 tonnes,” said Kavlekar. He added that there are four departments involved in the issue: Agriculture dept for farmers, WRD and PWD for water and the Co-operation department, which runs the Sanjivani sugar factory. “Hence, it was decided to call a joint meeting to chalk out a plan and the same was discussed. Every department official has been given a particular role so that the farmers get full support. Thus, it was also decided to have a co-ordination committee of officials from of all the four departments,” he added. “This committee will coordinate on various issues pertaining to sugarcane production and other issues of the farmers,” said Kavlekar, who is also the Agriculture Minister.
Asked if there was any discussion on the fate of the Sugar factory, he said that is a separate issue all together and that it was not discussed. “The government has decided to buy the produce from the farmers. Whether it will be given to Sanjivani factory or sent somewhere else I have no idea,” he said.
