By: Amit Kumar
KARNAL: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday inaugurated an upgraded sugar mill on Meerut road in Karnal. The chief minister, accompanied by Haryana cooperation minister Banwari Lal, also launched the 49th sugarcane crushing season.
A prayer was also organised at the mill before start of work. Interacting with media, Khattar said the old mill had less capacity for crushing sugarcane. Due to this, 10-15 lakh tonnes of surplus sugarcane had to be allocated to other mills. But now, the mill capacity has been increased to 3,500 tonnes crushed per day (TCD) from 2,200 TCD.
He said Rs 263 crore had been spent on the mill’s upgrade.
He said the new mill would also generate 18 MW power, which will help increase income. Khattar said the mill’s upgrade had been a demand of farmers, and the government had fulfilled it.
Khattar laid the foundation of the new mill on January 20, 2018.
Replying to a question about SKM drafting a future strategy for the agitation, Khattar said, “It is an agitation by some people and it is being run due to their stubbornness. The central government has also invited them several times. Even now if they leave their stubborn attitude, it will not take time to resolve this problem.”
In reply to a question about the farmer’s dharna in Narnaund, Khattar said the FIR had already been filed and action would be taken against persons involved in damaging vehicles. Apart from this, the CM also inaugurated several other development projects, including a stadium for budding hockey players at Gapuwala Bagh in Ward No 14 on Hansi road.
