Farmers left high and dry as sugar mill shuts down

PARSA, June 4: Sugarcane farmers of Parsa and adjoining districts have been left high and dry after the government dissolved the only state-owned sugar factory based at Birgunj Sub-metropolis-17, Parsa, in 2059 B.S.

The Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government had decided to dissolve the sugar factory citing lack of profit.

Due to the closure of the factory, the farmers of Parsa district are forced to take their 50,000 metric tonnes sugarcane for crushing in the nearby districts.

The farmers take their sugarcane to Mamkaur Sugar Mill in Bara, Garuda Sugar Mill in Rautahat and Indushankar Sugar Mill in Sarlahi for sugarcane crushing.

Ramsewak Saha, a farmer of Bishrampur, Parsa, said that the privately-run sugar mills were not paying good price to the farmers for their productions.

Most of the physical infrastructures of the factory have been broken down while 50 bigha land of the sugar factory in Dumarwana has turned into a grazing field.

Locals have formed a panel under the convener of ex-lawmaker Ajay Dwibedi to exert pressure on officials to resume the sugar factory.

Dwibedi said Birgunj Sugar Mill is linked to the pride of all Nepalis and all should unite for the company´s protection.

He said he had drawn attention of Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai to protect the land of the company scattered across the country and the Prime Minister was also serious to this end.

After the closure of the factory, some 2,000 workers have lost their jobs while the residential area of the factory was also being encroached.