#MUKERIAN_NEWS : PROTESTING CANE GROWERS LIFT DHARNA FROM JALANDHAR-PATHANKOT NATIONAL HIGHWAY AT MUKERIAN

PROTESTING CANE GROWERS LIFT DHARNA FROM JALANDHAR-PATHANKOT NATIONAL HIGHWAY AT MUKERIAN

SUGAR MILL MANAGEMENT TRANSFERRED Rs. 2.5 Cr each on Thursday and promised for another 2.5 Cr on Friday

TOTAL 7 CRORE TO BE CREDITED TO FARMERS ACCOUNTs, BY MONDAY: VISHESH SARANGAL

ADC URGES FARMERS TO BRING ISSUES TO NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION FIRST, RATHER STAGING PROTEST

ALSO CONSITITUES COMMITTEE UNDER SDM TO HOLD MONTHLY MEETINGS TO AVOID SUCH ISSUES IN THE FUTURE

MUKERIAN / HOSHIARPUR, OCTOBER 1 (PUREWAL, GURPREET SINGH, SOURAV) : Acceding to appeal of the District Administration and its prompt intervention, the agitating cane growers at Mukerian has decided to call off their ongoing protest at Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway. On the directions of the Administration, the management of Sugar Mill, Mukerian also transferred a sum of Rs. 2.5 crore to the accounts of cane farmers on Thursday late evening while another Rs. 2.5 crore was credited to the accounts of farmers on Friday.

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The efforts of District Administration to persuade the farmers bore fruits after four rounds of detailed deliberations led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) Vishesh Sarangal, which lasted for 10 hours. The farmers had started indefinite protest by blocking Jalandhar-Pathankot highway but with the active intervention of senior officers the farmers lifted their protest, which further led to smooth flow of traffic and transportation on this one of the busiest highways.

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During four-round of parleys with the farmers gathered from Mukerian and adjoining areas, Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) Vishesh Sarangal has also formed a local level committee under concerned SDM along with General Manager of the mill and a few representatives of farmers’ union, which would convene monthly meetings so as to avoid such protests in future.

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Giving details in this regard, Vishesh Sarangal said that a team of civil and police officers were reached at the spot early morning to hold discussions with the farmers. “We conducted a joint meeting of farmers’ representatives, sugar mill management and officers, where it has been decided that the mill management will clear all the dues within next 10 days with crediting the total pending dues to the tune of Rs. 19.47 crore. “Of this amount, Rs. 2.50 crore was credited to accounts of farmers on Thursday and Rs 2.5 Cr will be credited on Friday. And by Monday total 7 crore will be transferred out of remaining 19.47 Cr” said Sarangal.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner also pointed out that the remaining dues of farmers would be cleared within next 10 days.

In an appeal to the farmers’ unions, Sarangal said that farmers should bring such issues to the notice of District Administration first so that the requisite action could be taken. He said that directly holding such dharnas create various inconveniences to the people facing different kinds of emergency especially on National Highway. Pertinently, the mill management had to pay total dues of farmers to the tune of Rs. 19.47 crore out of total Rs. 304 crore as nearly Rs. 285 crore had already been disbursed to the farmers. Directions have been given to the local committee to hold regular meetings with the farmers’ representatives and mill management so that such issue recurred in future thus causing problems to common masses.

Sarangal also reiterated that the District Administration is fully committed to ensure welfare of all sections of society especially the farmers by sorting out their issues within minimal time but they must bring such matters in the notice of administration to ensure amicable solution.