PANJIM: The Sanjivani Sugar Factory Administrator has clarified that one-third of the payments to the farmers has already been released and refuted the allegations of the protesting farmers that their dues were not cleared.
Administrator Satej Kamat informed that the farmers have already been officially communicated that 20 per cent of their dues have been processed and released subsequently.
“On November 21, payments to farmers, who are entitled for 80 per cent grants have been released. Of these 18 are from Sattari, 39 from Canacona and six farmers from Pernem, who have received a total Rs 18.92 lakh,” he said.
Further Kamat said, “On November 23, amount of Rs 35.39 lakh was released. Of these 30 farmers were from Quepem, 21 from Sanguem, nine each from Sattari and Pernem Talukas, who got the money in their accounts. In addition to that, 85 farmers from Sanguem and 13 from Canacona received a total of Rs 20.08 lakh assured by the government.”
According to Kamat, Sanjivani Sugar Factor has released money of 230 farmers out of a total of 637 farmers. The amount sums up to over Rs 75 lakh, he said.
Kamat said that he is completing all the works that are under his purview and doable immediately. “I am governed by certain rules. Some things that require long term follow-up have been initiated,” he said.
It may be recalled that the sugarcane cultivators on Thursday threatened to go on an indefinite strike while expressing worries over their future prospects if their pending dues were not cleared by December 6.
