Speed Post News Network
Bagaha : Sugarcane growers under Tirupati Sugars Ltd, Bagaha, reserved area, put up blockade at four places simultaneously near Dumariya, Baragaon, and Rampur on NH 727 and near Narwal -Borawal village on State Highway on January 22, 2019, paralysing traffic till the time of reporting to protest non-payment of their sugarcane dues to the tune of about Rs 220 crore for current crushing season. It was first instance of such a massive protest by sugarcane farmer against the Sugar Factory and the Government officials under Bagaha Sub -Diivision in West Champaran district.
Apart from blocking traffic, the sugarcane growers were burning tyres on the road shouting slogans against their MLAs Dhirendra Pratap Singh ( Valmikinagar) and Raghav Sharan Pandey ( Bagaha) and MP from Valmikinagar Satish Chandra Dubey for their alleged indifferent attitude to their plight. They also burnt an effigy of Sugarcane Development Minister and MLA from Sikta, West Champaran, Khurseed alias Firoz Ahmad. The protesters said that their economic activities had come to a halt because of non-payment of their sugarcane dues.
“Sugarcane is our cash crop,” said a leader of sugarcane growers Ramesh Fauzi of village Kumbhiya under Bagaha-2 block of the district. He said that the Tirupati Sugars Ltd started its crushing season in the first week of November, 2018, at capacity of 80,000 quintals per day. The sugarcane growers also accused the factor of underweighing their sugarcane and bungling in Challan distribution.
When contacted. SDM, Bagaha, Ghanshyam Meena, said that sugarcane farmers were being requested to remove the blockade and Sugar factory management asked to clear sugarcane dues of the farmers failing which a case will be lodged against the management under Sugarcane Supply & Purchase Act.
Meanwhile, General Manager (Sugarcane), Tirupati Sugars Ltd, Bagaha, B N Tirpathi, tentered his resignation to the Managing Director of the factory D P Yadav on January 22, 2019, with a copy of the same sent to the SDM, Bagaha.