Illegal crushing of sugarcane by power crushers in the district is going on unchecked that may hamper sugar production in achieving the target.
Natore Sugar Mills General Manager Shahnur Reza said about 175 power crushers are now in operation in the area to prepare molasses, violating the law.
The authorities of the mill have so far filed 15 cases and sent 64 legal notices to the law breakers. They also seized 85 power crushers with the help of local administration.
Delwar Hossain, a sugarcane grower of Agdigha village in Sadar upazila, said the sugar mill is buying sugarcane from the growers at low price. "We get Tk 3,198 by selling 30 maunds of sugarcane, but if we make molasses we can sell it at Tk 6,000 to Tk 7,000."
“Now the mill authorities are giving the money through mobile banking, and they take Tk 10 per Tk 1,000 when we withdraw the money. Sometimes the money is sent to a wrong number and it becomes very difficult to get it back,” Delwar added.
Abul Kashem, another sugarcane grower and also owner of a power crusher, said they are crushing sugarcane because it is __more profitable than selling it to the mill. "We get money immediately, but the sugar mill pays the money 10 to 30 days later," he added.
Sajjad Gazi, a sugarcane grower of the same area, said, “When sugar was Tk 37 per kg, we sold sugarcane at Tk, 3,207 per maund, but now we get Tk 3,198 per maund when sugar costs Tk 60 per kg. How can we sell the sugarcane to the mill?”
Younus Ali, a power crusher owner, said it is true that if they make molasses in large quantities the sugar mill will lose production, and then nobody will buy sugarcane. “We use power crusher as the mill is giving low price. If we get minimum Tk 150 per maund we will not crush the sugarcane," he added.
President of North Bengal Sugarcane Growers' Association Ibrahim Khalilullah said if growers make molasses by crushing sugarcane they can cultivate a monsoon crop on the same land. He requested the authorities concerned to grant permission to operate power crushers on temporary basis. He also urged the authorities to start online banking suspending the mobile banking.
Deputy Commissioner of Natore Shahina Khatun said, “We are determined to stop the illegal power crushing of sugarcane,” adding that Natore is a major sugarcane producing district in the country and two sugar mills are operating in the district.