T.P.R. Selvam (AINRC) on Friday asserted that the now defunct cooperative sugar mills at Lingareddypalayam should be revived by the government and it should not be handed over to private players.
Participating in the discussion on budget in the Assembly, Mr. Selvam said the sugar mill, which was a source of livelihood for thousands of farmers and workers, was closed.
“The government should take an early decision to restart the mill only as an undertaking in the cooperative sector. This is the only cooperative undertaking producing sugar and had earned a good name over the last two decades,” he said.
Mr. Selvam wanted an assurance from the Cooperative Minister M. Kandasamy on the floor of the House that the mill would not be handed over to private players.
Replying to Mr. Selvam, Mr. Kandasamy said the government would study the feasibility of restarting the mill in an appropriate manner either as a government undertaking or by any other means. The AINRC MLA insisted that the government should take over the mill and revive it for the benefit of farmers and workers.
