With the standoff continuing between NCS Sugars and sugarcane growers for the past several weeks over settlement of dues to the tune of Rs. 13 crore, uncertainty over crushing operations looms large. The crushing is scheduled to begin next week.
On Saturday, the talks between the management and Sugarcane Growers’ Association president Potunuri Lakshmi Naidu and general secretary Reddy Lakshmi Naidu, in the presence of Parvathipuram MLA Bobbili Chiranjeevulu and TDP district president Dwarapureddy Jagadish failed. While Managing Director of NCS Sugars Limited N. Nageswara Rao and Director N. Srinivasa Rao informed the growers that their dues would be settled by December 15 and wanted them to supply sugarcane for crushing. The association representatives refused it saying that they would supply sugarcane only after the settlement of dues.
Following which the management left the meeting hall in a huff.
Later, the farmers staged a dharna in front of the factory at Latchaiahpeta in Sitanagaram mandal till late in the evening. Mr. Reddy Lakshmi Naidu told The Hindu over phone that they would chalk-out a plan of action in a day or two demanding settlement of dues. Mr. Naidu demanded that the government take over the factory.
Based on the representation of sugarcane growers of the factory, Sub-Collector Swetha Mohanty had lodged a complaint with Sitanagaram police. During investigation, the police had found that managing director Narayanam Nageswara Rao, the two executive directors, and some more persons hatched a conspiracy to cheat the growers and diverted the amount for some other projects. Two executive directors were arrested in September in the case.
