Closed Sugar mill in Maharashtra’s Jalna 
Mumbai: A sugar mill in Maharashtra’s Jalna area has put the limelight on around 8,000 farmers who were once allegedly the stakeholders of the unit, now have been reportedly left to fend for themselves.
Locals have accused politicians of ignoring the plight of farmers who are only interested in money-making.
The sugar mill in Jalna was constructed after Balasaheb Pawar had convinced around 8,000 farmers to donate for the sugar mill. 7,861 farmers had invested Rs 7.52 crores so that the unit can be constructed. After the mill was built, the farmers were also made stakeholders. The unit was running in profits for years, however, it started making losses in 1997-98.
Locals have blamed politicians including, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena leader Arjun Khotkar for the sorry state of the sugar mill. It may be noted that BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya had earlier accused Khotkar of a scam of 100 crores in connection with the purchase of a sugar mill in Jalna.
Arjun Khotkar is accused of acquiring the mill by a proxy company. He, however, dismissed all the allegations and termed it a political conspiracy to defame him.
Ajit Pawar has been accused of using his clout to appoint the board of directors at the Jalna factory.
Meanwhile, social activist Anna Hazare has alleged huge corruption in sugar cooperative factories and has demanded a probe. Hazare said that a thorough probe can unearth Rs 25,000 crore which has been lost due to scams.