Punjab Government clears Rs.27 crore due payment of farmers associated with Budhewal Sugar Mill

Ludhiana, September 17, 2019: In a good news for the sugarcane farmers associated with The Budhewal Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd, the Punjab government today released pending payments amounting to Rs.27 crore for the year 2017-18 and 2018-19. Pending dues of Rs.65 lakh of 23 sugarcane farmers of Dakha area were also cleared today. A function in this regard was held at The Budhewal Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd, near here today, in which District Congress Committee (Rural) President Karanjit Singh Galib was the Chief Guest. During this function, cheques were distributed amongst 23 sugarcane farmers of Dakha area, while pending payments of farmers from other areas were also cleared. While addressing the farmers on the occasion, Galib stated that the Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab government is committed for the welfare of farmers. He informed that several welfare schemes have been started for the farmers, which have been well received and a large number of farmers are getting benefitted from them. While thanking the Chief Minister for clearing 100% due payments of sugarcane farmers associated with The Budhewal Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd, Karanjit Singh Galib said that this initiative would provide much needed respite for the farmers. He said that ever since the Congress formed government in Punjab, the first decision taken by the government was to waive off debt of farmers and till date, lakhs of farmers have been benefitted. He said that the Punjab government is also providing up to 80% subsidy on the farm machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue. He informed that the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has approved 960 applications of farmers in this regard and the farmers would be provided subsidy for purchase of happy seeder, reversible hydraulic MB plough, paddy straw multure/chopper, zero till drill and 50% subsidy is to be provided for fitting super SMS on combines, and 80% subsidy is to be provided to 210 farmer groups that have joined together. He informed that a district-level committee has already issued clearances to the beneficiary farmers for purchase of machinery and the work on issuing of subsidy would also start in coming days. Under this scheme, the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department and Cooperative Department have jointly given subsidy of Rs 23.68 crore on 2,623 machines to farmers/cooperative societies in district Ludhiana last year. Suresh Kumar Kureel, GM, The Budhewal Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd, informed that 100% pending payments amounting to Rs 27 crore for the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 have been cleared by the state government. He informed that payments have been handed over to all the sugarcane farmers associated with their sugar mill. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Anand Sarup Singh Mohie, Darshan Singh Birmi, Karan Warring vice chairman PEDA, Manjit Singh Hambran Director The Budhewal Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd, Manjit Singh Bharowal block samiti member, Ishwarjot Singh Cheema, besides several others.