Daijiworld media Network – Udupi (SB)

Udupi, Jan 13: Minister Dr V S Acharya on Tuesday January 12 said that Rami Sugar Infrastructure Limited from Mumbai that took over the defunct Bramhavar Cooperative Sugar Factory two years ago on a 30-year-lease has agreed to release Rs 12 crore immediately to settle the long pending dues to sugarcane growers as well as the arrears to the employees and the loans from several primary co-operative societies in the district and rest in equated yearly payment of Rs 1.5 crore.
 
Speaking to the media persons after chairing a meet with the commissioner for Sugarcane Development A K Monnappa, representatives from the sugarcane growers and from Rami Sugars to discuss revival of the factory, Acharya said that though Rami Sugars took over the factory two years ago, no works began due to technical problems. Now the firm partnered with Sri Annapoorna Groups from Hyderabad has agreed to stick on to the original agreement for the total investment of Rs 31.68 crore including settlement of all dues and rejuvenation of the factory for crushing sugarcane.

The factory would commence crushing of sugarcanes after a year, he said and added that the government has assured the company that it would also be allowed to establish a distillery for the co-generation of Ethanol besides enhancing the crushing capacity to 25,000 tones. The outcome of the meeting will be presented at the next cabinet meeting for approval, he said.

The Regional Agricultural Research Centre at Bramhavar has come forward to supply sugarcane seeds and efforts would also be made to provide eight-hour power supply to the pumpsets used for sugarcane cultivation. Once the Varahi irrigation project is complete, the farmers of Kundapur and Udupi could also utilize the water from this project, he added.

Deputy Commissioner Hemalatha, Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat, Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon and MLC Prathapchandra Shetty among others were present.