KHAIRPUR, Oct 1: The Ranipur and Khairpur sugar mills failed to start sugarcane crushing despite the provincial government’s decision to begin the season from October 1.

Efforts by this correspondent to contact administrations of both mills failed. Even, the DCO could not be reached.

President, Khairpur Abadgar Ittehad, Shakir Shah and other office-bearers condemned the managements for their failure to start crushing on schedule as the sugarcane crop was ready for harvest.

They expressed concern over mills attitude to stay at least one-month behind the government’s schedule for past many years.

APP adds: Sugarcane growers of Sindh are expecting again to suffer financial losses as no initiative has been taken by the management of any sugar mill in the province to start sugarcane crushing season from Monday.

The federal government has decided that the crushing season will start on Oct 1 but Sindh Cane Commissioner Akbar Leghari said that no sugar mill has taken steps in this direction.

The president of the Federation of Chambers of Agriculture, Syed Qamaruz Zaman Shah, demanded action against the mill owners under Sugar Factories Control Act.