Jalandhar: Cane growers’ bodies have postponed their protest after assurance of fulfilling their demands made by Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwa here at circuit house Jalandhar on Wednesday.
The farmers said that if their demands are not met by October 3, then a massive sit-in, blocking national highways, will be held on October 4. Farmers say that the price of sugarcane is being demanded at Rs 450 per quintal.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would make an official announcement in this regard in the Vidhan Sabha session on October 3, 2022. He said that the state government is concerned about the issues of cane cultivators including fixation of crop price besides others and the CM himself would make an announcement on their genuine demands.
The minister said that the government is working to evolve an elaborate mechanism where cane growers would get their payments within 14 days. Likewise, concerted efforts were being made to ensure that all the Sugar Mills were functional before November 15 so that farmers do not face any kind of problem with respect to their crops. He also mentioned that the issue of Bhogpur Sugar Mill was also under consideration and it would be made operational by the stipulated time-line adding that efforts were also being put in place to start Phagwara Sugar Mill.
Speaking on stubble burning issue, Dhaliwal said that the Punjab Government would assist the farmers with all the required machinery and facilities to minimize the incidents of crop residue burning as it is posing a great threat to our health.
Replying to a query related to an alleged agriculture machinery scam worth Rs. 150 crore, the minister said that the enquiry has been completed in this matter and actions would soon be initiated against the guilty persons.