After the government suspended licences of 12 sugar mills over non-payment of  FRP dues to farmers for the 2014-15 season, at least 4 factories have come forward and cleared their pending payments. Their licences are expected to be reinstated next week, top officials of the Maharashtra Sugar Commissionerate said.

According to sugar commissioner Vipin Sharma, these factories have made payments and therefore their licences will be reinstated.

The arrears position is improving and is expected to go below the R200-crore mark for 2014-15 season and reaching the 80% FRP payment target for the 2015-16 season by the month-end. The commissioner is also hopeful of concluding the hearing for 6 sugar mills in Nanded region with regard to non-payment of FRP.

At the hearing called by the sugar commissioner in Pune last month as per the directions of the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court,17 factories had said that they have made up 100% FRP payments to farmers. Of the 24 factories in Nanded region that were given time to pay their dues, around 17 factories have made full FRP Payments, 7 factories have made part payments and others said that they are willing to make payments soon.