Work continued to remain stalled in sugar mills across western Uttar Pradesh, with farmers refusing to sell their produce over cane prices, even as the factories officially began their crushing season here.
Farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Manju Devi Tikait have refused to sell their cane produce below Rs 250 per quintal to the sugar mills resulting in loss of several lakh rupees per day for the factories.
"We are incurring a loss of Rs 9-10 lakh daily due to the Mills being non functional," MR Khan Deputy General Manager Dhampur Sugar mills said.
Meanwhile, the agitators continued their protest and barred entry of sugarcane laden carriages into the factories. They also damaged the cane purchasing centre set up by Dhampur Sugar Mills at Village Paijania in Bijnor and upturned cane laden carts of the defying farmers.
At village Mandawali, the farmers made a bonfire of sugarcane and vowed not to supply it to the mills until they were paid Rs 280 per quintal as its price.
Canegrowers across Uttar Pradesh have been agitating against the announced State Advisory Price of Rs 160 to Rs 170 per quintal, with an effective hike of Rs 25 per quintal, terming it as insufficient.
