SARLAHI, May 2 -- Sugarcane farmers in the southern part of Sarlahi district are left disgruntled once again after sugar mills in the region shut cane crushing operations without paying the farmers.

Out of three sugar mills in the region, two have not paid a single penny to cane supplying farmers despite crushing canes while one mill is disbursing payment partially in line with its schedule.

Annapurna Sugar Mill at Dhankaul and Mahalaxmi Sugar Mill at Godaita put down their shutters on April 19 after crushing more than 200,000 tonnes. They have not paid the farmers yet.

Indu Shankar Sugar Mill shut operations on Monday after crushing 351,400 tonnes of sugar cane but has only paid Rs420 million out of Rs1.65 billion in dues.

According ...