DC Nitesh Patil has strictly ordered sugar factories to pay the pending dues to farmers by June 25. He issued this directive during a coordination meeting with sugarcane farmers and representatives of sugar mills at the DC office on Wednesday. Belagavi district houses 28 sugar mills, three of which have pending payments.
Patil instructed the sugar factory representatives to make payments along with a 15% interest rate as per the law. He also asked the representatives to provide a written commitment to the district administration, promising to clear the payments by June 25. He warned that failure to comply could result in the seizure of sugar and machinery from the factories’ warehouses.
DC Patil also directed officials to calculate the payable amounts, including the 15% interest.
Protest by Farmers
Earlier, farmers under various organizations staged a protest at the DC office. Led by Shashikant Naik, the protesters demanded action against the Hiranyakeshi sugar factory in Sankeshwar, which has withheld payments for the past six months.
