Sugar factories asked to pay farmers' dues in seven days

The deputy commissioner has issued notices to nine sugar factories in the district asking them to pay the first instalment of the dues to sugar cane growers within a week, with 15 per cent interest.

According to the notice issued through the respective tahsildars, the administration would auction the sugar stocks in the factories if they fail to comply with the terms of the notice. It also warns them of selling their immovable properties for the recovery of the dues.

The nine factories together owe Rs 790.71 crore to the farmers towards the sugar cane purchased during 2014-15. The amount due by these factories are as follows:

Sadashiva Sugars (Rs 17.02 cr); Bilagi Sugars (Rs 48.21 cr); Gem Sugars (Rs 88.55 cr); ICPAL (Rs 95.70 cr); Godavari Sugars (Rs 56.32 cr); Prabhulingeshwar Sugars (Rs 144.22 cr); Jamakhandi Sugars (Rs 33.11 cr), Ranna Sugar Factory (Rs 87.86 cr) and Nirani Sugars (Rs 218.72 cr), according to Babu Rao Kulkarni, the Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies department.