The sugar industry’s lifeline — its ageing rail system — is on the verge of collapse, leaving cane farmers stranded and frustrated, warns politician Surendra Lal.
Mr Lal claims the Sugar Ministry has not invested in fixing the deteriorating network.
“They keep talking about helping cane farmers, but delivery is just as important. That part is being completely ignored,” he said.
He said the industry needed sustainable investment or risked a complete breakdown.
“This isn’t some quick fix.”
Frustrated farmers, he said, were already abandoning the rail network.
“I just spoke to one farmer who said, ‘I’m using a truck now because rail delivery isn’t reliable’. We’ve seen multiple derailments with locomotives crashing off the tracks. If this isn’t fixed soon, cane transport will come to a complete standstill,” Lal said.
Sugar Ministry community engagement officer Bobby Lal said the ministry was aware of the problem.
“The ministry is working on it,” he said, adding that a strategic plan was being developed.
Attempts to get a comment from Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh were unsuccessful when this edition went to press.
