Farmers stage dharna atThummapala sugar factory

Demand that operation of all six crushing units be resumed at the earliest

Seeking a fair deal: Farmers who bring produce to Thummapala sugar factory near Anakapalle allege lapses in getting the money credited into their bank accounts.

Mild tension prevailed at Thummapala Sugar Factory at Anakapalle as farmers staged a protest at its front gate on Monday, demanding that the management immediately initiated measures to resume operation of all the six crushing units. Anakapalle police sent a team to pacify the protesters.

The sugar factory that remained locked for last several years resumed operation a few months ago. As of now, only two of the total six crushing units are functioning.

Long wait

According to farmers who bring their produce to the factory, the low crushing turnaround is keeping them in wait for two to three days. “As only two units are functioning, we have to wait at the factory for days together until our produces get crushed. But, the management has not provided even basic facilities to stay overnight,” the protesters alleged and demanded that facilities such as water for bullocks be provided as still many farmers come to the factory carrying load on carts.

Further, the farmers also alleged lapses in getting their money credited to their bank accounts.

“We are receiving messages that the money has been credited, but it does not reflect in the account statement,” some protesters alleged. In response, the factory management agreed to address the issue at the earliest.

“The protesters budged after the factory management agreed to consider their demands and the dharna was called off,” Anakapalle DSP B. Prasad Rao said.

‘Pay dues in one go’

Meanwhile, CPI(M) district secretary K. Lokanadham demanded that crushing should be resumed immediately and the payment due for 5,000 tonnes of produce be credited in one go. “Though the weekly payment to farmers was promised, it has not happened thus far,” he alleged.

Saying that he and CITU State president Ch. Narsinga Rao visited the factory thrice recently, Mr. Lokanadham said instead of running the factory ahead of the elections in a hurried manner, the necessary preparation should have been done.

The machinery should have been readied for systematic crushing as the government has sanctioned ₹30.6 crore to resume the crushing operations, Mr. Lokanadham said.