OKARA, Dec 11: Baba Farid sugar mills and Abdullah mills had started cane crushing after a delay of 45 days.

Starting the season on Nov 30, the owners had hampered the sowing of wheat. Thousands of growers had been living at the mercy of these owners in terms of financial restraints.

Both the mills are being purchasing sugar cane for Rs35 per 40kg instead of the support price.

However, the government remained indifferent towards the needs of the farmers.

When contacted, mills’ high-ups told this correspondent that the government had not yet issued notification of price.

During his recent visit here, Punjab governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool pledged that notification would be issued without delay. Nothing had so far been done for growers. — Correspondent