MITHI, Oct 7: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has again warned that sugar mill owners will face action if they do not start sugarcane crushing by Oct 15.

He was talking to journalists after casting his vote in the by-election for NA-229 seat (Tharparkar-I) in his native village here on Thursday. Dr Rahim said he had taken notice of alleged misappropriation of a huge quantity of relief wheat meant for distribution among people in the Tharparkar district. He said he had suspended the district food controller and ordered an inquiry into the matter.

About shortage of anti-snake venom in hospitals of interior of Sindh, the chief minister said the federal health minister had told him that 800 vials of ASV had been made available.

However, when he was informed that anti-snake venom was not available in Tharparkar hospitals, he promised to look into the matter. Answering a question about shortage of doctors in hospitals, he said steps would be taken to fill the vacant posts.

Our Hyderabad Bureau adds: The date of sugarcane crushing had been decided at a meeting in Karachi on Sept 28, presided over by the chief minister. To check the role of middlemen in sale and purchase of sugarcane, the Sindh cane commissioner has forwarded a list of middlemen to the civil administration, DPOs and the agriculture ministry secretary. The middlemen have also been issued notices under sections 15 and 21 of the Sugar Factories Control Act, warning them against working as brokers.