Sugarcane permits: Illegal middleman arrested
Sugarcane farmers planned to protest against mill owners on Wednesday.
BAHAWALPUR:
Five middlemen were arrested by the Zahir Pir police on Wednesday in front of several sugar mills. Four of them were later released after no evidence was found against them.
An FIR was registered against one of them, Chaudhry Bilal Tariq, on charges of fraud. Police said investigations against the other four were ongoing.
They said many other illegal middlemen had fled as they made the arrests at the sugar mills. The action was taken after the DCO was informed that sugarcane growers planned to stage a protest against middlemen and factory owners.
They had planned to block Iqbalabad Chowk on Wednesday and burn effigies of sugar mill owners for not removing the middlemen. They alleged that the middle men forced them to sell their sugarcane crop to them at low price and then sold to the mill owners.
They also accused sugarcane managers at mills and circle officers, who issue entry permits to farmers, of corruption in the purchase and selling of sugarcane.
They said while the managers and middlemen let their men to the factories, loaded trucks of common farmers waited outside the factories for as long as seven days.
For this reason, sugar mills transporters had also decided to join the protest.
As news of the DCO’s arrival spread at the sugar mills, one of the farmers said, the trolleys were removed from outside the factories.
“This happened for the first time in the season. They were gone as if they had never been there,” he said.
Later on Wednesday, DCO Nabeel Javed met the assistant commissioners and directed them to ensure protection of farmers’ rights, especially in the issuance of permits. He told them to take strict action against those exploiting the farmers.
Farmers and sugar mills’ representatives were also present.
The district coordination officer said that illegal purchasing centres would be raided and brokers arrested. No political pressure would be acceptable, he added.
He said if mill owners did not find the quality of the crop satisfactory, they had the right to return it.
He also directed mill administrations to issue pass books to the farmers immediately and ensure they were paid on time.
He asked the farmers to notify the DCO about any illegal purchasing centres and brokers. He assured them that their identities would be kept anonymous.
Farmers’ representatives pointed out that there were several mills in Rahim Yar Khan, Janpur, Alipur, Khanpur, Uch Sharif and Chanjni where middlemen controlled the supply of crop to the mills.
They said the middlemen introduced themselves as relatives of general managers of the mills and let in at least 30 to 40 trolleys into the factories in a night.
They alleged that mill circle officers received a Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 bribe for each permit. They also issued permits for twice the capacity of the mill.
Sugar mills administrations said they were not aware of any such incidents. They said they were taking steps so that permits issued without discrimination.
They, however, said that the mills could issue permits only according to their capacity.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2012.
Five middlemen were arrested by the Zahir Pir police on Wednesday in front of several sugar mills. Four of them were later released after no evidence was found against them.
An FIR was registered against one of them, Chaudhry Bilal Tariq, on charges of fraud. Police said investigations against the other four were ongoing.
They said many other illegal middlemen had fled as they made the arrests at the sugar mills. The action was taken after the DCO was informed that sugarcane growers planned to stage a protest against middlemen and factory owners.
They had planned to block Iqbalabad Chowk on Wednesday and burn effigies of sugar mill owners for not removing the middlemen. They alleged that the middle men forced them to sell their sugarcane crop to them at low price and then sold to the mill owners.
They also accused sugarcane managers at mills and circle officers, who issue entry permits to farmers, of corruption in the purchase and selling of sugarcane.
They said while the managers and middlemen let their men to the factories, loaded trucks of common farmers waited outside the factories for as long as seven days.
For this reason, sugar mills transporters had also decided to join the protest.
As news of the DCO’s arrival spread at the sugar mills, one of the farmers said, the trolleys were removed from outside the factories.
“This happened for the first time in the season. They were gone as if they had never been there,” he said.
Later on Wednesday, DCO Nabeel Javed met the assistant commissioners and directed them to ensure protection of farmers’ rights, especially in the issuance of permits. He told them to take strict action against those exploiting the farmers.
Farmers and sugar mills’ representatives were also present.
The district coordination officer said that illegal purchasing centres would be raided and brokers arrested. No political pressure would be acceptable, he added.
He said if mill owners did not find the quality of the crop satisfactory, they had the right to return it.
He also directed mill administrations to issue pass books to the farmers immediately and ensure they were paid on time.
He asked the farmers to notify the DCO about any illegal purchasing centres and brokers. He assured them that their identities would be kept anonymous.
Farmers’ representatives pointed out that there were several mills in Rahim Yar Khan, Janpur, Alipur, Khanpur, Uch Sharif and Chanjni where middlemen controlled the supply of crop to the mills.
They said the middlemen introduced themselves as relatives of general managers of the mills and let in at least 30 to 40 trolleys into the factories in a night.
They alleged that mill circle officers received a Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 bribe for each permit. They also issued permits for twice the capacity of the mill.
Sugar mills administrations said they were not aware of any such incidents. They said they were taking steps so that permits issued without discrimination.
They, however, said that the mills could issue permits only according to their capacity.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2012.