Demanding that the State government immediately announce support price for sugar and clear outstanding arrears, a large number of sugarcane farmers staged a dharna in front of “Shakkar Bhavan” here on Monday.
The cane growers, belonging to Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, bemoaned that they were put to severe hardships due to the increased rates of fertilizers, diesel, labour wages and other incidental expenses. They also complained that the government was fleecing them with five per cent VAT and several crores of rupees in the form of taxes on molasses.
The cane growers said the Centre has atrociously announced support price for sugarcane at Rs 2,100 per ton while the factories were procuring the same at Rs 2,600 per ton. They demanded that the government pay Rs 3,400 per ton. (NSS)