After the closure of Kashipur Sugar Mill in 2012, the future of Gadarpur Sugar Mill in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand appears uncertain in view of the growing losses and shrinking cane area.
Amid fears that the government might close the Gadarpur Sugar Mill, nearly 400 employees of the mill have been agitating during the past few months in protest against the government's alleged indifference towards sugar mills in the state. Most of the mills in the state are running in heavy losses.
The state government has set up a committee under Chief Secretary N Ravi Shanker to assess the economic viability of Gadarpur Sugar Mill, which has been closed down, owing to the unavailability of sugarcane.
The state Cabinet in its recent meeting had discussed the issue amid growing concern that it was unable to complete the 100-day crushing cycle due to the shrinking cane area. This season, the mill was closed after crushing 1.4 million quintal of sugarcane, when the target was to crush three million quintal.
Speaking in the Assembly here, Sugarcane Minister Surendra Negi said the committee under the chief secretary has been asked to give report on the economic viability of the Gadarpur sugarmill. He said the government has not taken any decision to close the mill.
Kashipur BJP MLA Harbhajan Singh Cheema has asked the government to rehabilitate the employees of the Kashipur Sugar Mill. "The government must do something for nearly 300 employees of Kashipur sugar mill," Cheema said.
Amid fears that the government might close the Gadarpur Sugar Mill, nearly 400 employees of the mill have been agitating during the past few months in protest against the government's alleged indifference towards sugar mills in the state. Most of the mills in the state are running in heavy losses.
The state government has set up a committee under Chief Secretary N Ravi Shanker to assess the economic viability of Gadarpur Sugar Mill, which has been closed down, owing to the unavailability of sugarcane.
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The decision evoked strong protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with its members of legislative Assembly (MLAs), led by Rajkumar Thukral, asking the government not to shut the mill. "The losses of Gadarpur sugar mill are Rs 140 crore while the losses of other sugar mills are much higher. So there is no justification in closing the Gadapur Sugar Mill," said Thukral.
The state Cabinet in its recent meeting had discussed the issue amid growing concern that it was unable to complete the 100-day crushing cycle due to the shrinking cane area. This season, the mill was closed after crushing 1.4 million quintal of sugarcane, when the target was to crush three million quintal.
Speaking in the Assembly here, Sugarcane Minister Surendra Negi said the committee under the chief secretary has been asked to give report on the economic viability of the Gadarpur sugarmill. He said the government has not taken any decision to close the mill.
Kashipur BJP MLA Harbhajan Singh Cheema has asked the government to rehabilitate the employees of the Kashipur Sugar Mill. "The government must do something for nearly 300 employees of Kashipur sugar mill," Cheema said.