Amid demand from the industry to allow retail sugar prices to rise up to Rs 45/kg, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said the rates should be reasonable for consumers as the government has a difficult job to balance interest of all stakeholders. 

Addressing the annual general meeting of Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), Transport Minister Gadkari asked the debt-ridden industry to focus on ethanol and other by-products of sugarcane in order to improve their earnings.

He said the government is working on a policy to promote second generation bio-ethanol and sought suggestions from the sugar industry.