The Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories has urged the state government to stay the proceedings with regard to legal notices being issued to sugar mills for non-payment of fair and remunerative price (FRP) to farmers. Nearly 118 mills in Maharashtra have been issued notices under the Cane Control Order, 1966, since they have failed to make FRP payments.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will lead a delegation of federation members to meet Union finance minister Arun Jaitely and Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution Ram Vilas Paswan, in Delhi on December 27.

A majority of sugar mills in Maharashtra have expressed inability to pay the FRP as per directives of the Centre as first cane instalment to farmers on the back of a sharp fall in sugar prices. The federation members, led by chairman Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, met Fadnavis in Nagpur seeking a support price of Rs 700 per tonne to bridge the gap between the price of sugar and cost of production.

When contacted Vipin Sharma, sugar commissioner said the hearings were currently in progress at the level of regional joint directors. Once the hearings are completed at this level, these are then forwarded to the Sugar

Commissionerate for further hearings and, if necessary, the district collector may issue revenue recovery orders.