NAWABSHAH, Nov 12: The three sugar mills of the district Habib, Sakrand, Qazi Ahmed and Al-Noor have issued indents to cane growers for commencing crushing from 15th of this month, said the General Manager of Sakrand Sugar Mills, on Monday.

No official was available at the Habib Sugar Mills to comment, however, operator confirmed the issuance of indents for cane crushing from the said date.

Cane growers expressed doubt on the announcement saying they can’t say anything right now but will wait for crushing to start practically.

Our Correspondent from Thatta adds: Delay in cane crushing by three sugar mills has caused heavy losses, particularly to small growers in Thatta district. Dawn learnt this through concern quarters, on Monday.

Only Laar Sugar Mills out of the four, begun crushing since last few days, the Deewan, Al-Asif, and Shah Murad had so far failed to start crushing despite clear directives of Cane Commissioner.

Besides, unemployment to daily wagers and harvesting labourers, this delay resulted in late sowing of wheat crop and hitting of black-bug to standing sugarcane crop.

It was learnt that over 3,000 seasonal workers at these factories belonging to various parts of the country were anxiously waiting to join their jobs.

Our Correspondent from Naushahro Feroze adds: President, Pakistan Kissan Board, Sindh Chapter, Sardar Akbar Ujjan has threatened to launch protest drive on sugar mills’ failure to start crushing.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, he said sugar mills in Punjab were paying Rs90 per 40kg, while in Sindh it was fixed at Rs60 per 40kg.

He regretted that growers of Sindh were also not being paid reasonable price of wheat and cotton crops. He said that growers whose crops were damaged due to mealy bug attack were not paid compensation.