The Belgaum district administration has instructed all sugar factories to settle their overdue payments to farmers. Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil emphasized strict enforcement of this directive, ensuring that mills clear outstanding bills owed to sugarcane growers by June 25.
These instructions were given during a meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Belgaum, involving representatives from sugarcane growers and sugar mills, which took place on Wednesday.
Among the 28 sugar factories in the district, three currently have outstanding payments. According to the law, all mills must settle these dues along with a 15% interest by June 25.
The Deputy Commissioner instructed the management of these factories to provide written assurances that the bills, including interest, will be cleared before the specified deadline.
The Deputy Commissioner cautioned that if the factories fail to settle their dues within the given deadline, the State government will assume control of their administration.
He further stated that measures would be initiated to recover the outstanding amounts owed to farmers within a week by auctioning off the sugar stocks and assets of the seized factories.
He directed the relevant officials to compile a report detailing the total amount owed by the district’s factories, including interest.
Present at the meeting were Sashikantha Naik, a prominent farmer leader and former Minister, Srishail Kankanwadi, Joint Director of the Food Department, as well as leaders representing farmers and sugar factories.
