Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that he was ready to accord warm welcome to the former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh and his party colleagues who were to organize a sit-in (dharna) here in front of his official residence, on the issue of payment of Sugarcane arrears, but they didn’t turn up on the scheduled time.Talking to the media persons outside his official residence where the opposition was to stage a dharna, the Chief Minister said he came to receive them at sharp 11.00 am but to his utter surprise they didn’t reach till 11.20 am as they were supposed to assemble here at 11.00 am. Mr. Badal said that he waited for them till 11.20 and then left for Punjab Bhawan to attend the high level meeting with Korean delegation led by its envoy Mr. Lee . He said he was ever punctual in every public function or meeting by nature and thus could not afford to miss or reach late especially on such pre scheduled meetings or engagements. Mr. Badal categorically said that he would again come to meet them after this meeting and it would have been much better had they come inside to discuss this issue over a cup of tea in a cordial manner.
Referring to the issue of payment of sugarcane arrears to the cane growers, the Chief Minister said that the total outstanding arrears towards cooperative sugar mills was Rs.540 crore, of which Rs.210 crore and Rs.240 crore has been paid by the cooperative sugar mills and government respectively. The balance amount of Rs.90 crore would be made by the state government next month. Likewise, he also pointed out that the total amount of outstanding arrears towards the private sugar mills was Rs.1123 crore, out of which payment to the tune of Rs.900 crore has been made and the remainder Rs.223 crore was still to be paid to the farmers. Mr. Badal said that the case regarding the payment of sugarcane arrears was pending in the Punjab & Haryana High Court and the next date of hearing was fixed on September 10, 2015 in this case.
Asked to comment on whether the state government would seek one time bailout package from Centre for the survival of sugar industry, the Chief Minister said the Punjab government has already taken up this matter with the Government of India so as to ensure a level playing field to all the stakeholders of sugar industry including sugarcane growers, private mill owners and cooperative sugar mills. He said that State Agriculture Minister Mr. Tota Singh has already shot off a letter to the Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Radha Mohan Singh in this behalf.The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Advisor on National Affairs and Media Mr. Harcharan Bains and Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.