By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan 2: Lekh Raj Bhatta, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, said Thursday that all dues amount of sugarcane farmers would be paid by the first week of Magh (mid-Januray). Speaking at the National Assembly meeting on Thursday, Minister Bhatta informed that the government had already ordered the sugar mill owners to pay 80 per cent dues of sugarcane farmers by January 10 and remaining amount by January 19.
Minister Bhatta said that the government would control all transaction of sugarcane mills if they did not pay the dues to the farmers within deadline.
The government was committed to managing timely payment for sugarcane farmers, fixing price of sugarcane and controlling the presence of middle in transaction and irregularities while weighing the sugarcane and distributing the bill.
Minister Bhatta informed that Rs. 65,489,000 was paid by the sugar industries to the farmers. Out of it, Rs. 24,100,000 was paid by Bagmati Khansari, Rs. 20,000,000 by Himalaya Sugar mills, Rs. 18,000,000 by Everest Sugar mill, and Rs. 3,389,000 by Reliance Sugar Mill.
Likewise, the owners of Mahalaxmi Sugar Mill committed to clearing all dues of farmers by January 10. Shirram Sugar Mill committed to clearing all due of farmers even by selling its property, Minsiter Bhatta informed.
Similarly, he informed that the owners of Annapurna Sugar and General Private Limited, Indira Sugar and Agro E Private Limited came in the contact of Ministry.
He said the government was serious about the 11-point demands of sugarcane farmers.