LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to carry out crackdown against illegal weighing bridges for sugarcane in the province during coming crushing season to save farmers from exploitation. Besides this, it has also decided not to ban jaggery manufacturing units during the crushing season.

Cane Commissioner Punjab Zaman Wattoo announcing this said that those running illegal weighing bridge will face three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs5 million.

The punishment will be awarded under the amendments made in the Sugar Factories (Control) Act 1950. Under another amendment in the same act, sugarcane purchasing agent also has to submit a security bond/bank guarantee worth Rs10 million. It will also be binding on him to purchase sugarcane only from that area of which a license he has obtained.

It will also be binding on the purchasing agent to issue Cane Purchase Receipt (CPR) of the same mill, which has nominated him as purchasing agent, said Zaman Wattoo.

Meanwhile, it has also been learnt that the Cabinet Committee for determination of minimum purchase price for sugarcane has decided not to ban manufacturing of jiggery at any place of the province this year.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020