14.02 hrs.
The Lok Sabha re-assembled after Lunch at two minutes
past Fourteen of the Clock.
(Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair)
MATTERS UNDER RULE 377
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Now, we will take up item no. 13, Matters under Rule 377.
Title: Need to make sugar mills in Dindigul parliamentary constituency of Tamil Nadu operational and also register cane for the mills in the area earmarked for it.
(DINDIGUL): Two sugar mills are located in my Dindigul Parliamentary constituency, Tamil Nadu. One in public sector named as Madura Sugars at Pandiyarajapuram and another at Alanganallur under National Cooperative Sugar Mills.
The National Cooperative Sugar Mills was established during the year 1966. The crushing capacity of the mills was expanded to 25000 MT in 1989. The crushing capacity of the mills is 4,30,000 MT at 2500 per day for 172 days. Nearly 500 employees are directly engaged in the mills and equal number of workers are indirectly involved. The crushing operation of the National Cooperative Sugar Mills for 2002-03 season onwards was not permitted and hence operation of the mills is in stand still. I learn that no specific orders from the authorities was issued to that effect. Hence the registered cane for the mills for crushing was diverted unauthorisedly to nearby private sector sugar mills. Further, cane registration for subsequent period, i.e. from 2002-03 was not permitted and therefore stopped.
It is submitted that except these two sugar mills, there is no other mill in South Tamil Nadu under public or cooperaive sector. It caters to the need of nearly 10,000 cane growers.
I request the hon. Agricultural Minister, Government of India to instruct the authority concerned to register cane for the mills itself in the area earmarked for it and also arranging necessary required funds for the same.