Sugarcane Crushing Season Begins at Laksar’s Rai Bahadur Narayan Singh Sugar Mill, Leaders Call for Farmer Welfare and Unity in Uttarakhand

Haridwar, Nov 2025 : The 2025–26 sugarcane crushing season was formally inaugurated at the Rai Bahadur Narayan Singh Sugar Mill in Laksar with traditional rituals, marking a moment of significance for farmers across the region. The ceremony began with a havan and the ceremonial worship of weighing scales, symbolising a prosperous and balanced season ahead. The event drew a large turnout of distinguished guests, local leaders, and farmers who gathered to witness the commencement of the crushing operations.

Among the prominent attendees were Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar, former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, Minister of State and Vice Chairman of the State-Level Sugarcane Development Advisory Committee Shyamveer Singh Saini, Sugarcane Development Council Chairman Anurag Chaudhary, Council Secretary Surajbhan Singh, and the mill’s General Manager S.P. Singh. Also present were AGM B.S. Tomar, National President of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kranti) Vikas Saini, District President Anil Chaudhary, and State In-charge Pankaj Saini.

As part of the tradition, the first farmer to bring a sugarcane load to the mill was honoured on stage. He was presented with a blanket and a cash prize, a gesture appreciated by the farming community. Addressing the gathering, GM S.P. Singh emphasised the strong relationship between the mill management and farmers. He noted that all necessary arrangements had been completed in the mill yard to ensure smooth operations and farmer convenience. Highlighting the mill’s reputation, he reaffirmed that the Laksar Sugar Mill is known for timely payments across the state — a commitment that will be maintained this year as well.

Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar used the occasion to highlight the challenges farmers have faced due to recent natural calamities. He urged the government to adopt a compassionate approach, stating, “Farmers are the providers of food; they must be treated with respect and empathy.” He expressed concern over the marginal increase in sugarcane prices, calling it insufficient considering farmers’ hardships. Kumar also reiterated his long-standing demand to make Haridwar the temporary capital of Uttarakhand, arguing that regional discrimination — which he described as a dangerous divide between “hill-ism” and “plain-ism” — must end. He asserted that the people of Uttarakhand should remain united.

When questioned about water scarcity issues raised during a recent assembly session, Kumar responded that the Haridwar region does not face severe water shortages. “In Laksar and Khanpur, water is available just 10 feet below the surface,” he said, countering concerns raised by other legislators.

Minister of State Shyamveer Singh Saini stated that the reopening of the mill would bring significant relief to farmers who had previously been forced to sell their produce at low prices to private crushers due to the mill’s temporary closure. He assured farmers that they would now receive fair and regulated prices for their sugarcane.

Former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion emphasised that sugar mills and farmers share a symbiotic relationship. Congratulating farmers on the start of the crushing season, he said the mill’s operation would not only benefit individual growers but also stimulate the region’s economy. Addressing the ongoing debate on regional identity, he stressed that the people of Uttarakhand — whether from the hills or the plains — are united and that discrimination has no place in the state. He supported the concerns raised by MLA Shahzad in the recent session, saying they were valid and necessary to address.

As the crushing season officially begins, visible enthusiasm and hope have returned to the farming community. Farmers expressed optimism that timely payments, smooth operations, and favourable conditions this season would help compensate for previous losses and provide much-needed financial stability.