Chandigarh, September 7:
The balance amount of Rs. 45 Cr. due towards the cane growers by the Cooperative Sugar Mills, was released today which has brought the total payment for the year 2020-21 to Rs. 463.95 Cr. out of Rs. 472.10 Cr. The amount released would be credited into the accounts of the cane growers today itself. The rest Rs. 8.15 Cr. is pending towards the Government of India.
Disclosing this here today, the Cooperation Minister S. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that with the release of payment, the State Government has fulfilled the promise made to the cane growers on the directions of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh by the first week of September. He further said that the State Government had made a budgetary provision of Rs. 300 Cr. for the year 2021-22 for complete payment of the balance amount.
Divulging more, S. Randhawa said that in a big bonanza for the cane growers, the Punjab Government has announced a record increase of Rs. 360 per quintal in the prices of sugarcane whereas the Government of India has increased the per quintal price of sugarcane by a mere Rs. 5. Similarly, the amount of cane growers due towards the Cooperative Sugar Mills, has also been paid on priority basis.
The Minister also said that the 9 cooperative sugar mills of the State have already paid due amount for the year 2019-20 pertaining to Rs. 486.24 Cr. and Rs. 463.95 Cr. have been paid out of total Rs. 472.10 Cr. for the year 2020-21. The balance amount of Rs. 8.15 Cr. is to be released by the Central Government as export subsidy and buffer stock subsidy of the cooperative sugar mills for the year 2019-20. The matter is being taken up emphatically with the Central Government. The cooperative sugar mills credit the sugar export subsidy as well as the buffer stock subsidy directly into the accounts of the cane growers in accordance with the directions of the Central Government. The balance amount of Rs. 8.15 Cr. would also be directly credited into the account of the cane growers, when released.
