The Centre has directed states to take action against those sugarmill owners who failed to pay dues to sugarcane farmers within twoweeks. Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the duesamounted to 9000 crore rupees. He said out of the total dues, 5,741crore rupees accounted as dues to sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh. He was making a statement in the Lok Sabha in response to a Calling AttentionMotion on the need to correct the price fixation mechanism for sugarcane andagricultural produce across the country. Initiating the discussionSatya Pal Singh of the BJP demanded an effective price fixationmechanism. He suggested the Food Corporation of India purchasesugar for the Public Distribution System. His party colleague, Ms. KrishnaRaj, expressed apprehension that the non – payment of dues to farmers maylead to law and order situation.