The state government is exploring introduction of differential rating for sugar on the lines of LPG and water, so that domestic consumers get it at comparatively lesser rates than the commercial users. The state government is going to take up the issue with Centre since it is the union government which decides fair and remunerative prices for sugar cane as well as that of sugar.

Minister for industries Subhash Desai informed that he had requested the chief minister to take up the issue of differential rating for sugar with the Centre.

While pointing out that the sugar industry is facing a crisis, he said that it is interesting to note that although sugar cane cultivation is an agricultural activity, manufacturing sugar is industrial and that is the reason the

government would have to take steps to provide relief to this sector.

Desai informed that he had tried to bring a private member’s bill on integrated risk management in agriculture which is effectively deployed in many countries throughout the world.

He said, “If risk management in agriculture is taken care of, it could be within our reach to combat the agrarian crisis effectively.”