Cane farmers take to the streets for dues

Sugarcane farmers stage a black-flag demonstration at the Villupuram Collectorate on Monday.

Sugarcane farmers attached to the private sugar factories at Mundiyambakkam and Semmedu, led by R. Ramamurthy, MLA, staged a black-flag demonstration at the Collectorate here on Monday.

They said the sugar factories owed them a sum of Rs. 60 crore, by way of arrears. They urged the authorities to prevail upon the sugar factories to release the amount immediately to the farmers.

They also called upon the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw its orders directing the sugar factories to pay Rs. 2,200 for a tonne of sugarcane as advised by the Centre. State secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam N. Subramanian participated.