Suspending of sugarcane crushing by PSMA Sindh Chapter was termed as 'national crime', by Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) at its meeting held here on Saturday. The SAB working committee, which met here under the chairman ship of Abdul Majeed Nizamani, expressed strong resentment over the silence of the government over the unilateral action of PSMA, which is no less than a national tragedy.
The meeting observed that PSMA during the past six years has been violating every notification of the government under Sugar Factory Control Act 1950 by delaying crushing season, delaying payment to growers for their produce and deceiving growers in respect of payment.
The meeting observed that the negative attitude of PSMA has forced the cane growers to switch over to other crops, which can be judged by the fact that cane production has recorded 30 percent decline, and it might go to 50 percent decline by next year.
The meeting complained that during the past four years, the production losses mounted to sky high due to acute shortage of water and 280 percent increase in the prices of inputs-diesel, fertiliser, pesticides, labour charges, taxes and bribe.
The meeting said that in view of above factors, it is absolutely impossible for the growers to produce 1800 million tons sugarcane to feed the mills. It argued that due to the indifferent attitude of the government and the above factors, it is extremely difficult for the growers to produce 1800 million tons sugarcane to meet the requirement of sugar mills. The meeting pointed out that according to statistics released by the Agriculture Department, the present production of sugarcane in the province has been reduced to only 800 million tons.
The meeting expressed apprehensions that except for seven sugar mills - Faran, Mehran, Matiari, Sanghar, Sakrand, Habib and Al-Noor Sugar Mills - the remaining 25 mills will have to face acute shortage of sugarcane till the end of the season.
The SAB appealed to Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim to direct the sugar mills to resume crushing without further delay to save the cane crop from total destruction. It also called upon the government to conduct a survey and chalk out plan for the next season in advance.
It further demanded that all the outstanding payment of the growers of last year's season, illegal deductions by mills and drainage cess should be paid to the growers latest by December 15 and road cess of mill share and market fee should be recovered under Revenue Act.
It said that in order to meet the sugar crisis next year, water supply should be ensured during February and March and certified sugarcane seed should be provided to bring 100,000 acres land under cultivation of sugarcane.
The meeting was of the view that due to acute shortage of certified seed, DAP, and nitrophos fertilisers and their black marketing, wheat cultivation will be affected to the extent of 70 percent.
The meeting demanded of the federal and provincial governments to restore the 23 percent reduced quota of phosphatic fertilisers for Sindh. It further demanded that all tube-wells of 'Scarp' should be made functional within one week.
Expressing grave concern over the decline in seed-cotton (phutti) price much below the state set price and demanded that growers should be paid the government rate, especially when the TCP has purchased cotton at the rate of Rs 2165 per maund.
The meeting was highly critical of the proposed construction of Kalabagh dam and said it would harm the harmony between the provinces. It claimed that Irsa and technical committee have rejected this dam.
The meeting criticised the role of Wapda in introducing ill-conceived projects such as Scarp (Salinity Control and Rehabilitation Programme), NDP and LBOD, and said that Wapda's failure had negative impact on the country economically and politically.
It appealed to the President of Pakistan to abandon KBD and suggested that a mega project of 35 MAF, which will produce 15000 MW power without accumulating any silt and will remain operational for hundreds of years should be construction at Katzerah, 18 km from Skardu.
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