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MIRPURKHAS, Dec 3: The district sugar cess committee on Wednesday demanded of the government that growers should be ensured payment of arrears amounting Rs400 million outstanding against sugar mills of the district.
District Nazim Shafqat Shah Jilani presided over the meeting which was also attended by president Sindh Cane Growers Association, Syed Qurban Ali Shah, taluka Nazims, DCO, EDOs, representatives of sugar mills and growers.
The meeting was informed that the Sindh government had released Rs17.4 million of sugar cess funds for constructions and repairs of roads in the district.
DCO Mohammad Siddique Memon said 60 per cent of sugar cess fund would be spent on the construction of new roads and 40 per cent would be made available for repairs of old
damaged roads.
Taluka Nazims and representatives of sugar mills were urged to submit reports regarding conditions of roads, under cultivation sugarcane and details of sugarcane being transported to sugar mills of their areas in the next meeting.
The meeting decided that five per cent amount of sugar cess fund would be spent on the establishment of sugarcane research laboratory.
MNA Syed Qurban Ali shah told the meeting that the last year’s Rs400 million of growers were outstanding against sugar mills as a result they were facing financial crisis.
CANAL: The Mari minor was opened after one month closure under the directives of director Nara Canal Area Water Board.
Talking to this correspondent on Wednesday, growers of the area said the minor was closed to force them to pay Abiana.
They claimed they could not grow wheat on 80 per cent land due to the closure of the minor.
The board sources said Rs500,000 were outstanding against growers under the head of Abiana.
The growers, Abdul Ghafoor Maher advocate, Yar Mohammad Mari, Mubarak Mahar, Master Lal Bux and others also expressed their dissatisfaction over the formation of farmers’ organization of the minor.
They said the FO was formed without convening the meeting of growers and big landlords were chosen as its office-bearers.
They demanded that chairman Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority should take notice of the matter and give opportunity to growers of the minor to take part in election.
