PONDA: After agitating farmers on Monday blocked the national highway demanding clarity from the government about its stand regarding the proposed ethanol plant in the Sanjivani Sugar Factory, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the farmers’ delegation that no private entity would be allowed to set up an ethanol plant in the factory premises.
He even assured government support to farmers if they take up the responsibility to run the facility.
CM however warned of strict action if the farmers come on road to stage protest, said members of Sanjivani Sugar Farmers Association.
The farmers said they were ready to explore all possibilities, but for that, the government should hand over possession of the sugar factory to farmers. The final decision would be taken soon in a farmers meeting, said one of the office bearers of Farmers Association.
It may be recalled that government had closed crushing season at Sanjivani Sugar Factory since 2019-20 and had assured to pay compensation every year and even promised to restart ethanol production.
However as there was no sign of staring the plant, the farmers had hit on road demanding a clear stand from the government.
One of the office bearers of the Farmers Association, speaking to O Heraldo, said they are upset with government taking so much time to clarify this issue.
They will explore all possibilities to restart the Sanjivani Sugar Factory and soon in meeting they will decide future course of action on restarting the factory.
“If the Government does not handover possession of the Sugar Factory to the farmers, then we will approach the court,” the office bearer said.
He said the farmers were running the sugar factory, until the government took over its possession in 1996.
“At that time annual losses amounted to Rs 6 crore. However, the accumulated losses shot up to Rs 135 crore when government started operating it. The government’s faulty policies, visionless administration are responsible for this situation,” the member of Sanjivani Sugar Farmers Association, said.
“Initially, we were producing jiggery. But government asked us to produce sugar. However, farmers are still capable of the quantity of sugar required for running the factory. There are vast fallow lands in Goa, which can be brought under cultivation. Sugar cane cultivation practice is going on in Goa since long time and many farmers earn their livelihood through it,” he said.
He said that there is an effort to finish Sanjivani Sugar Factory by slow poisoning. Sanjivani owns around 15 lakh square meters of land and politicians are eying this prime land.