Collector S. Venkateswar and Superintendent of Police L. Subbarayudu conducting a review meeting with sugarcane farmers, at Collectorate in Tirupati on Monday.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
The management of Sudalagunta Sugars Limited (SSL), which had been non-operation for several years and was allegedly involved in loan fraud, has finally agreed to pay the pending dues of ₹30 crore to sugarcane farmers in two instalments by November 30, 2026.
District Collector S. Venkateswar and Superintendent of Police (SP) L. Subbarayudu conducted a review meeting with SSL factory owner Jayaram Chowdary at Collectorate in Tirupati on Monday. The sugarcane farmers of Unit-1 in Srikalahasti and Unit-2 in Podalakuru participated in the meeting.
The Collector directed the concerned officials and the SSL management to work in coordination to ensure a permanent solution to the farmers’ issue. Noting that the farmers have already been waiting for a long time, he insisted that action be taken without any further delay in the payment of dues.
He clarified that a complete plan for payment of dues should be submitted in writing, rather than verbal assurances. He ordered that it should be clearly stated in an affidavit that the payment of the total dues will be completed within 60 days.
During the meeting, Mr. Jayaram Chowdary said that measures were being explored to mobilise the necessary funds — ₹15 crore initially and another ₹15 crore subsequently. He assured that the payments would be made as soon as possible, by the end of November.
If the dues cannot be cleared within the stipulated 60-day period, 50 acres of land in Nellore and unencumbered land in Srikalahasti would be sold, and the proceeds will be utilised to settle the outstanding amounts, he said.
The SSL promoter said that efforts were being made to secure funds through the sale once bank approvals were completed as part of the next stage of the process. He also revealed that an advance payment of ₹2 crore had already been made to the bank.
The farmers participating in the meeting expressed satisfaction that the district administration took the initiative to resolve their issues.
Published – September 28, 2026 08:53 pm IST
