Secretary Food Punjab Dr. Pervaiz Ahmed Khan has said that out of 42 functional sugar mills in Punjab, 25 have made 100% payment to the sugarcane growers. On the direction of Chief Minister Punjab for recovery of outstanding amount of sugarcane price to the growers, action against remaining 17 defaulting sugar mills was initiated on 24.06.2016, he added. He said that in the light of action taken, out of total outstanding amount of Rs.2,05,12,83,658/- on 24.06.2016, payment of Rs.52,77,17,655/- has been made to the sugarcane growers from 24.06.2016 to 04.07.2016. He further said that strict action under sections 6(2) & 21 of Punjab Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950 has been initiated against seven sugar mills which have been attached / sealed for keeping the payment stopped to the sugarcane growers and did not comply with the direction of Government of the Punjab include M/s Abdullah-I – Okara, Chishtia – Sargodha, Darya Khan – Bhakkar, Haseeb Waqas – Muzaffargarh, Huda – Nankana Sahib, Kamalia – T.T.Singh and Adam – Bahawalnagar Sugar Mills by declaring the recovery of outstanding dues to be recovered as arrears of Land Revenue for ensuring 100% payment through auctioning the sugar stock available with the sugar mill as well as land / machinery / superstructure of the sugar mills. He said that General Manager of M/S Adam Sugar Mill, Bahawalnagar has also been arrested under Section 406 PPC for not making payment to the sugarcane growers. District Coordination Officer/Additional Cane Commissioner, Bahawalnagar have been directed to inspect cane payment ledger / books of accounts under Rule 4 of the Punjab Sugar Factories Control Rules, 1950, he added. Secretary Food said that remaining 10 defaulting sugar mills have also been directed to clear the outstanding amount by 20th July, 2016. In case of failure, they will also be proceeded under the law, he added. He said that during last crushing season i.e. 2014-15,
M/S Brothers – Kasur, Colony-II – Khanewal & Haseeb Waqas – Nankana Sahib Sugar Mills had also been attached / sealed due to non-payment of sugarcane price to the growers. The recovery proceedings are in progress under Land Revenue Act, he added.