HYDERABAD, Dec 10: Out of over Rs11.286 billion dues of 2001-2002 crushing season, sugar mills of the province have paid about Rs11.197 billion to growers.

The sugar mills have promised to clear the remaining dues by Dec 15.

The Sindh cane commissioner, Mohammad Siddiq Memon, told APP here on Monday that according to section 20-AA of the Sugar Factories Control Act, managements of sugar mills were bound to clear the payment of sugarcane with in 15 days of purchasing the same.

If the mills failed to pay the dues and growers lodged complaint against the non-payment, the mills had to pay the outstanding amount with 18.5 per cent mark-up or face legal action, he added.