Irked Sanjivani sugarcane farmers issue warning to government
PONDA: With the Goa government failing to set up the proposed ethanol plant, the sugarcane farmers warned the government that it won’t be allowed to ‘grab Sanjivani Sugar Factory land’ for other projects.
The farmers of Sanjivani Sugar Factory at Dharbandora, are very much upset over government’s failure to set up ethanol plant. They are feeling cheated. The farmers said the government should clear its stand in writing about future of Sanjivani.
“If ethanol plant issue is not resolved, we won’t allow the government to touch an inch of Sanjivani Sugar Factory land. Till the ethanol plant issue is not resolved and alternative source of livelihood is not given to us, we will fight for Sanjivani land,” the farmers said.
The farmers also said that the government was taking too much time to clear its stand and said that they won’t accept verbal assurances regarding starting ethanol plant. If they don’t get a written assurance, they will block the roads.
President of Farmers Association Rajendra Desai asked why the government didn’t inform them that the government was shutting the sugar factory in the year 2019-20.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured of setting up ethanol plant and now after three years, he has said that the plant was not feasible.
“The Chief Minister has now told us to support the ethanol plant if they find any interested party to set up facility. This was not expected,” Desai said.
The Farmers Association President said that in month of June this year, the government had said that two parties had shown interest in setting up of the ethanol plant at Dharbandora, and the tendering process will commence soon.
“Now he says no body is coming forward. There is feeling of being cheated among the farmers over this,” he said.
It may be recalled that around 2 lakh square metres of land has been given to the Forensic Science University, while around 2 lakh sq mt has been offered to the Law College.
“Further, the government also plans to set up truck terminus using more 2 lakh square metres of land out of total 15 lakh square metres,” said the farmers. The association president said that the farmers are studying the legal options to stop the government from using the factory’s land for other use.
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