FAISALABAD, Sept 22: The Punjab government has decided to constitute supervisory committees in all districts before the commencement of the crushing season.

The decision was taken to eliminate indulgence of the middlemen, lessen the burden of litigation, resolve the longstanding demands of growers for timely sugarcane price announcement and keep a check on sugar mills performance, sources said here on Friday.

They said the step to form committees was being taken as the zone system had been abolished. These committees would now monitor the sugar mills purchase and sale in the crushing season, likely to start from Oct 1.

Despite the existence of the zone system, there had been continuous complaints from growers, including the less weighing, and behind the schedule payment, which usually resulted in undue litigation at various forums.

But, after the enforcement of the new policy, sugar mills and growers have been given a free hand to sell or purchase the produce from any area. In fact, this system would save growers from clutches of the middlemen, sources said and claimed that nobody would be able to exploit growers.

The supervisory committee in each district will comprise the DCO, who will be the chairman, district officers (labour, revenue, agriculture), two growers association representatives, one member each from sugar mills, a market committee member and a person nominated by the DCO or the additional cane commissioner.

Sources said that office-bearers of district supervisory committees would keep in view the number of purchase centers established in the district by each sugar mills and oversee the performance of sub-committees through regular meetings at least once in every fortnight. The sub-committee members would also jointly visit purchase centers.

They said that sugar mills in each district would be directed to furnish the detailed report of its purchase centers while all other centers operating in districts would be considered illegal and stern action would be taken against officials concerned.

All DCOs, they said, had been directed to get inspected all weighbridges at each purchase centers or factory gates by the DO (labour) before the start of the crushing season. They would also be required to obtain certificates for its correctness.

Meanwhile, all sugar mills have been asked to submit their lists of purchase centers by Sept 25.

An officer said that this innovative system would enable growers to escape from exploitation and any wrongdoing by sugar mills.