UP tightens cane transport norms to protect farmers, reduce fog accidents

Pilibhit: Uttar Pradesh sugarcane administration has tightened transport and procurement norms to safeguard farmers' interests and reduce road accidents involving cane-laden vehicles during foggy winter conditions.State sugar and sugarcane commissioner Ministhy S has directed all deputy cane commissioners, district cane officers and sugar mill managements across the state's 45 cane-producing districts to ensure that farmers are not charged for loading or unloading sugarcane at mill procurement centres.To improve road safety, officials have been asked to launch special drives to mandatorily equip tractor trolleys and trucks transporting sugarcane with yellow and red fluorescent paint strips. The step aims to enhance vehicle visibility in dense fog and prevent collisions.Sugar mills and departmental officials have also been instructed to coordinate with the police and the transport department to ensure the effective implementation of these measures. Ashish Gupta, general manager of LH Sugar Mill in Pilibhit, said over 4,500 tractor trolleys entering the mill yard and 70 sugar mill centres in the village belt were marked with fluorescent paint over two days. He said that the exercise would continue throughout the crushing season, with repainting carried out periodically as the markings fade.Assistant regional transport officer Virendra Singh said officials were ensuring that the fluorescent markings remain visible even after vehicles are loaded with cane. He added that regular inspections are being conducted at procurement centres and mill yards, and noted that red flags at the rear of cane vehicles have also proved effective in improving visibility.Cane commissioner has also ordered surprise inspections at procurement centres to curb irregularities such as short-weighing and diversion of sugarcane, officials said.