After a lull of two years, machines started rolling, and crushing activities were launched at MySugar factory in Mandya on Wednesday.
The reopening, however, was a low-key affair, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be officially inaugurating the factory on July 11. Sugar Commissioner and MySugar Managing Director J C Prakash, along with his wife Anupama Patil, launched the works after performing a simple puja. A power generating unit too was inaugurated on the occasion.
Somashekar of Sathanuru village, the first farmer to enter the factory with loads of sugarcane, was accorded a warm welcome. The crushing activities were kickstarted by Prakash who fed a bunch of cane into the machine.
The factory stopped its operations from April 21, 2015, due to various reasons. The government, administrative board, workers and farmer leaders had made all efforts to restart the factory. Former minister Ambareesh and District-in-charge minister M Krishnappa ignited the factory boiler on April 14 and announced the reopening of the factory in the first week of July.
Official inauguration
The factory will be officially inaugurated in a grand manner by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 11. Speaking to DH, Prakash said that with the machines being operated, it will enable us to give exact status to the chief minister during his visit next week.
The governments have released Rs 435 crore since 2002 for the rejuvenation of the factory. The Congress government has released Rs 175 crore and extended necessary help to reopen the factory which has a history of its own. The factory management has entered into an agreement with farmers to procure 1.80 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, he said.
All preparations have been made so that the factory does not face any trouble for the next three years. Around 60,000 tonnes of cane is ready for harvest in the factory limits. With Pandavapura sugar factory stalled, the sugarcane grown there will be transported to MySugar, he said.
Power unit
The power unit generates 30 mega watts everyday whereas the factory requires only 8 mega watts. The surplus power will be sold to Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (Cesc). The factory management has decided to share 70% of the profit with the farmers. The factory is ready to pay Rs 2,550 per tonne of sugarcane, he said.
Congress district unit president M S Atmananda, factory officials and employees were also present.
‘Extend advance’
Raitha Sangha district unit president Shambunahalli Suresh said that the reopening of the factory has come as a good news to farmers. However, an advance of Rs 3,000 should be paid for every tonne of cane supplied before crushing. The arrears amounting to Rs 32 crore should be settled otherwise farmers will not supply cane, he said.