SARGODHA: The Punjab government has directed sugar mills to ensure the payment of Rs180 per 40 kilo to farmers and issue cash payment receipts to them instantly or face action.

Deputy Commissioner Chuadhry Liaqat Ali Chattha said this in a meeting with cane growers and representatives of sugar mills at his office on Thursday.

He said mills would also face action for deduction in weight as only seven per cent of the deduction could be made on non-approved varieties of the cane and another three percent in case of mud and low quality cane.

He said every case of deduction on varieties would be checked by a committee, consisting of representative of cane growers, revenue officers and mills representatives.

He said the mill owners were bound to make payments in 15 days under the Sugarcane Act and the rule would be implemented strictly. He also appealed to the growers to avoid agitation and if they had any grievance they must approach him.

BY-POLL: By-elections for PP-30 Kotmomin will be held on March 5. The seat fell vacant after the death of Tahir Ahmad Sindhu.

Nomination papers will be accepted till Feb 21, while the final list of contestants will be displayed on Feb 8.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2018