Farmers’ leader Raju Shetti with sugar cane growers at Rani Channamma Circle, Hubballi, before leaving to stage a dharna outside Union minister Pralhad Joshi’s residence on Tuesday
Kolhapur: Mills in Maharashtra can begin crushing sugar cane before Oct 15, following a communication issued by the state sugar commissionerate. The move follows a Sept 9 meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , which advanced the start of the crushing season to Oct 15 from Nov 1, the date permitted last year. In its Sept 28 communication, the commissionerate said mills that had obtained crushing licences after completing the required formalities could start operations even before Oct 15.
The order clarified that there was no compulsion on mills to commence crushing from that date.
Though Centre allowed import of 10 lakh tonnes of sugar, only about 2.5 lakh tonnes is expected to arrive.
Sugar industry expert Vijay Autade said govt appeared keen to boost sugar production ahead of the festive season. Relaxing the norm is aimed at ensuring adequate sugar stocks during peak festive demand,” he said. “There could be a tight sugar supply in Nov, which coincides with Dasara and Diwali.
Earlier, mills were barred from crushing before a cutoff date and violations attracted penalties. Farmers protest outside Union minister’s residence Sugar cane growers affiliated to Karnataka State Raitha Sangh and Maharashtra-based Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana staged a dharna outside Union food and public distribution minister Pralhad Joshi’s residence in Hubballi, Dharwad district, on Tuesday.