Indian sugar mills association

Sharad Pawar wants sugar at Rs 40 per kg to help cut debt of mills

Date:	22 Apr 2016

Source:	The Economic Times

Reporter:	Jayashree Bhosale

News ID:	5446

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PUNE: NCP leader Sharad Pawar came to the defence of sugar mills - blamed for the drought in Maharashtra - on Thursday, arguing that the mills had been there for the past 20 years, and the current water scarcity has nothing to do with them. He, however, told every mill to spend up to Rs 25 lakh for water conservation in the state.

Apart from advising mills to help in tackling the current drought, Pawar also briefed them about the impending central government actions in the wake of rising prices. As the central government weighs the option of imposing stock limit on sugar to tame rising prices, Pawar, who would be meeting central authorities on April 26, said retail prices should remain at about Rs 40 per kg, so that mills can repay their debt and settle cane prices with farmers as well.

The current stock of sugar in Maharashtra is 72 lakh tonnes compared to 44 lakh tonnes in Uttar Pradesh. "Central government thinks that Maharashtra mills are hoarding sugar. However, while mills want to sell sugar, traders are not ready to lift it. So, we will request the central government to buy the sugar that's not lifted by traders for their public distribution scheme," said Pawar.

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