Farmers block Panipat-Khatima national highway in Shamli over sugarcane dues
Shamli: Farmers in Shamli blocked the Panipat-Khatima National Highway, demanding Rs 188 crore in outstanding dues from Shamli Sugar Mill. After 12 days of protesting with no response, they marched to the District Magistrate’s office, where police blocked their entry. Officials are mediating between the farmers and mill, closely monitoring developments, affecting 75,000 farming families.
Shamli: Farmers in Shamli district blocked the Panipat-Khatima National Highway on Tuesday, demanding payment of outstanding sugarcane dues totalling approximately Rs188 crore from Shamli Sugar Mill. The protest began when police barricaded their path to the District Magistrate’s office. The farmers staged a sit-in outside the Collectorate, but officials did not open the gates to address their concerns, causing significant disruption to the highway’s supply chain.
ADM Shamli Santosh Kumar said that efforts were underway to mediate a settlement between the farmers and mill officials, and all developments were being closely monitored.
Officials noted that the Shamli Sugar Mill owed approximately Rs 188 crore from the 2022-23 sugarcane season, affecting around 75,000 farming families in the region.
The farmers had been protesting at the sugar mill compound for 12 days, but after receiving no response from authorities, they decided to march to the Shamli Collectorate on Monday. Police blocked their entry into the DM’s office.
