Around 12-13 sugar factories in Maharashtra have approached the State Sugar Commissionerate for obtaining certificate stating that they have cleared more than 50% of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues of farmers for the current season before approaching banks for the recently announced interest-free soft loan package.
Vipin Sharma, Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner, told FE that the Commissionerate will be communicating to factories that they can directly approach the Pune office for obtaining the clearance of cane dues certificate instead of approaching the Regional Joint Directors (RJDs) in their respective regions.
This will help save time since the Commissionerate already has the statement of cane arrear dues till June 30, 2015 which has been verified by the RJDs, he said.
According to the Commissioner, around 148 factories in the state have cleared more than 50% dues and therefore are eligible to seek loans.
The Commissionerate has also decided to issue the certificates the same day so that these mills can approach the banks with their loan proposals.
Before approaching banks with their loan proposals, mills are required to submit a cane dues clearance certificate from the Sugar Commisisonerate.
There are some proposals at the RJD level which shall be taken up at the Commisionerate level, Sharma said.