Madurai Sugarcane Farmers Stage Protest Demanding Sugar Mill Revival
Sugarcane farmers in Madurai took to the streets on Thursday, staging a significant protest in front of the Madurai collectorate. Their primary demand was for the State government to take immediate action to reopen the National Cooperative Sugar Mills located at Alanganallur, which has remained non-operational since 2019. The prolonged closure has severely impacted the livelihoods of local farmers, leading to growing frustration and calls for urgent intervention.
Farmers Voice Grievances Over Government Inaction
Addressing the gathered protesters, N Palanisamy, the State vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers Association, highlighted the repeated failures of previous demands and agitations to elicit any meaningful response from the authorities. He emphasized that despite numerous appeals, the government has not taken concrete steps to address the issue, leaving farmers in a state of financial distress.
Financial Implications and Stalled Projects
Palanisamy pointed out that a review committee in 2023 had estimated the revival cost for the sugar mill at approximately ₹27 crore. Additionally, he revealed that a related ₹100-crore substation project, which was nearly 80% complete, has also been stalled due to the mill's closure. This dual setback has compounded the economic challenges faced by the farming community in the region.
Call for Immediate Government Action
The protest underscored the severe financial losses incurred by sugarcane farmers as a result of the mill's extended shutdown. Palanisamy and other leaders called for immediate measures to revive operations, stressing that further delays would only exacerbate the hardships. The farmers' rally serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for policy support and infrastructure revitalization in Tamil Nadu's agricultural sector.
