Sat Sep 27 11:23:21 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association is urging the state government to distribute jaggery (or jaggery powder) instead of sugar to family cardholders during the upcoming Pongal festival. They made this request at the Kurunkulam Arignar Anna Sugar Mill’s general body meeting, suggesting the jaggery be produced locally. They also advocated for installing ethanol-producing machinery at the mill to comply with recent court orders and increasing the sugarcane cultivation area to ensure a consistent supply. The association also suggested repurposing unused land at the mill for storage godowns.

**News Article:**

**Tamil Nadu Farmers Call for Jaggery Distribution During Pongal, Push for Ethanol Production**

THANJAVUR, September 27, 2025 – The Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association is appealing to the state government to replace the customary sugar distribution with jaggery or jaggery powder for family cardholders during the Pongal festival.

At today’s general body meeting of the Kurunkulam Arignar Anna Sugar Mill (KAAS Mill), association secretary Sundara Vimalanathan emphasized the importance of supporting local jaggery production, suggesting that KAAS Mill itself should be responsible for manufacturing the sweet product.

Beyond the Pongal appeal, the association is urging the state government to invest in machinery that will allow KAAS Mill to produce ethanol. This push comes in response to a recent Supreme Court order mandating 20% ethanol blending with petrol. The association believes local ethanol production will benefit farmers and align with national policy. To support increased ethanol production, they are also advocating for an expansion of the sugarcane cultivation area to guarantee an annual supply of 5 lakh tonnes of sugarcane.

In addition, the Association proposed using approximately 190 acres of land within the KAAS Mill premises for constructing godowns, which could be rented out to store agricultural produce, generating additional revenue. The association believes that these measures will strengthen the agricultural economy of the Cauvery delta region and support local farmers.

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