The sugar industry recently saw differences between southern/ western millers and those in the north on procedures to allocate permits for an extra million tonnes of export. Rakesh Bhartia, former CEO of sugar major Bajaj Hindusthan and currently CEO, India Glycols (a chemical manufacturer with a sugar mill in UP), spoke to Ajay Modi on the issues and how things could be improved. Edited excerpts:

Why the divide?
The south and west mills claim the (export) quota policy leads to unnecessary delays, due to hoarding of quotas by northern mills in the hope of a better price in lieu of quota sale. This delays export shipments.