Sugarcane farmers demand payment of dues from SSL in Tirupati

Tirupati: Sugarcane farmers from Ramachandrapuram, Tirupati rural and other mandals on Tuesday staged a protest here against the delay in payment towards supply of sugarcane to Sudalagunta Sugars Limited (SSL).

As the sugar factory is promoted by a hotelier based in the city, the farmers staged dharna before the Hotel Mayura opposite to bus stand here. Farmers leader Bhaskar Reddy, on the occasion, said that about Rs 20 crore is due from the sugar factory for the supply of sugar cane last year.

`` We were worried about the payment due to us as the factory stopped crushing for the past 8 months,'' Reddy said urging the government to intervene and see the sugar factory management pay the dues without further delay.