The balance amount of Rs. 45 Cr. due towards the Cooperative Sugar Mills, was released on Tuesday to the cane growers which has brought the total payment for the year 2020-21 to Rs. 463.95 Cr. out of Rs. 472.10 Cr. The rest Rs. 8.15 Cr. is pending towards the Government of India.
Disclosing this here, the Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that with the release of payment, the State Government has fulfilled the promise made to the cane growers.
He further said that the State Government had made a budgetary provision of Rs. 300 Cr. for the year 2021-22 for complete payment of the balance amount.
Divulging more, Randhawa said that in a big bonanza for the cane growers, the Punjab Government has announced a record increase of Rs. 360 per quintal in the prices of sugarcane whereas the Government of India has increased the per quintal price of sugarcane by a mere Rs. 5. Similarly, the amount of cane growers due towards the Cooperative Sugar Mills, has also been paid on priority basis.
The Minister also said that the 9 cooperative sugar mills of the State have already paid due amount for the year 2019-20 pertaining to Rs. 486.24 Cr. and Rs. 463.95 Cr. have been paid out of total Rs. 472.10 Cr. for the year 2020-21. The balance amount of Rs. 8.15 Cr. is to be released by the Central Government as export subsidy and buffer stock subsidy of the cooperative sugar mills for the year 2019-20.
The matter is being taken up emphatically with the Central Government.