FAISALABAD, Dec 30: Owners of sugar mills are exploiting cane growers by purchasing sugar cane at price less than fixed by the government.
The local police have arrested three owners of weighing scales involved in purchasing sugar cane from growers at low rates in various parts of rural areas.
On the orders of the district police chief, police teams along with some officials of the agencies concerned raided about a two dozen weighing bridges in the district.
Ghulam Ahmed of Chak 92-GB, Masood Masih of Dijkot and Ibrahim Ahmad of Tarkhani village were arrested for giving less amount to sugar cane growers as fixed by the government. They were booked under the Sugar cane Act 1950 and 420 PPC.
Farmers have appreciated the police action against the violators, urging the government to continue campaign against lawbreakers.
OKARA: Cane growers are facing problems outside factories as the Punjab government has not issued any notification about the sugar cane subsidy price of Rs42 per 40 kg.
The two factories in the district have been running for the last one month and are looting the growers by offering them much less price for their produce.
If the situation does not improve, the growers will cultivate less sugar cane crop in future which will result in the sugar price hike due to the negligence of government functionaries.
MIANWALI: Three sugar mills in Piplan tehsil are purchasing sugar cane from growers at Rs30 per 40 kg against the government fixed price of Rs42.
The farmers have no other alternative but to sell their produce at throw-away prices for they bring sugar cane to purchase centres on rented vehicles. Besides, they have to make payments to pesticide shops and repay bank loans.
The farmer community demanded that the government should bind the millowners to make them payments according to the officially fixed price.