SMP violation cases registered against sugar factory directors

Kolhapur, Oct 25 (UNI) The joint director's office of Sugar Cooperatives today registered cases with Chandgad police here against 14 directors of The Daulat Shetakari Sahakari Sugar Factory for allegedly violating the provisions of the statutory minimum price (SMP).

The sugar factory had defaulted on the payment of SMP worth about Rs 3.79 crore to cane-supplying farmers in 2003-04. For which, the farmers launched an agitation led by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana (SSS). Following this, joint director R S Mhasavekar had directed the sugar factory to release farmers' due payment with 15 per cent interest on pending dues, sources said.

However, the sugar factory made the payment of only Rs 3.79 crore to the farmers without paying the interest on the said amount for delay.

Following which, the joint director's office registered the case against the company directors, including Managing Director, for violation of SMP declared by the government as well as factory's failure to pay interest worth about Rs 2.27 crore on the dues, the sources added.

UNI BBK LY/SSS SKB2151