Strict action if cane dues not settled by Feb 28, UP govt warns sugar mills

Currently, the state mills owe almost Rs 10,000 cr to farmers, which is almost half the total outstanding by mills in India, including Maharashtra

Days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Gorakhpur to formally launch the flagship farmer’s minimum guarantee scheme on Sunday, the Uttar Pradesh government has asked the state's private sugar mills to fully clear their cane arrears.

The defaulting millers have been warned of strict legal action if they failed to settle their arrears by February 28. Currently, the state mills owe almost Rs 10,000 crore in farmers’ arrears, which is almost half the total outstanding by mills in India, including Maharashtra.

Yesterday, UP cane commissioner Sanjay Bhoosreddy held a meeting with the private sugar mills to review the payments situation, in