Team Herald
PONDA: Stating that they were kept in the dark over transfer of Sanjivani Sugar Factory land to National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), the sugarcane farmers on Monday warned the State government if need arises they are ready to approach the court over land transfer to the Central government projects.
The farmers demanded clarification from the State government on the various issues related to handing over of land to the Central government projects.
The sugarcane farmers of Sanjivani Sugar Factory are upset with the State government over the transfer of Sanjivani Sugar Factory-owned land to the Central government projects without taking general body meeting of the farmers and shareholders.
Addressing the media persons at the factory premises, Dharbandora, the farmers said that they were kept in the dark on the issue and were not taken into confidence before handing over the four lakh square metres of factory land to the forensic sciences university and law college and that they are ready to approach the court if needed.
The farmers said as the Assembly elections are scheduled soon, they are worried over the government’s decision and feared over the future of sugar factory and what would happen if the new government takes charge after the elections.
“If the land is handed over to the Central government projects, then the farmers should get jobs and education in the proposed projects,” they demanded.
Further, the farmers said, “The government had informed in the Assembly session to handover two lakh square metres of land to the NFSU but actually 4 lakh square metres of land is handed over to the forensic sciences university.”
“We don’t know when the proposed ethanol plant would be set up by the government. We are told that the detailed project reports (DPR) is being prepared for ethanol project. It’s two years now, the plant has shut operations and we are worried over the government’s intentions and decisions to handover the sugar factory land to various projects. If this continues, how the factory and farmers would survive,” questioned the farmers.
“All the farmers were not consulted before handing over the land to the forensic sciences university. We are ready to approach the court if needed. We are unhappy with the State government’s decision,” said the farmers.
They questioned why the Chief Minister and Cooperation Department not taking farmers into confidence while dealing with the sugar factory land.
“We don’t know whether the four lakh square metres land allotted to the forensic sciences university and law college by the government is sold or provided free of cost and are also in the dark over who would get the income generated from these colleges,” they said.
Meanwhile, the farmers also held a meeting in Sanjivani Sugar Factory premises along with Adv Narendra Savoikar, chairman of Farmers Facilitation Committee, wherein they discussed various issues such as pending bills, deciding compensatory amount to the farmers for five years as promised by the government.
