Govt denies ban on sugar exports before Dec'06

New Delhi, Dec 8 (UNI) The Government today said it has taken no such decision not to open up sugar exports before December this year.

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Akhilesh Prasad Singh informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that at present, the retail prices of non-levy sugar are in the range of Rs 17.50-21 per kg, except in Aizawl where it is Rs 25 per key.

On procurement of wheat in Rabi season, he said that the procurement of wheat during the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2006-07 was 92.26 lakh tonnes against the estimate of 162 lakh tonnes given by the Food Secretaries of the procuring state governments.

The procurement has declined due to high ruling open market prices, lower than the targeted production of wheat, negative market sentiments due to low stocks of wheat in Central Pool and more active participation by private traders.

Regarding import of oilseeds from Nepal and Srilanka, Dr Singh informed that according to reports there is negligible import of oilseeds from Nepal and Sri Lanka during the last three years. The production of major oilseeds in the country has been estimated at 277.31 lakh tonnes in 2005-06 as compared to 251.86 lakh tonnes in 2003-04.

The quantity of oilseeds imported during the year 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 was 4.7 thousand tonnes, 4.7 thousand tonnes and 9.9 thousand tonnes respectively.

On revival of closed sugar mills in Vidarbha, the Minister said as per the information received from the Cane Commissioner of Maharashtra, there are 20 sugar mills in the Vidarbha region, out of which 16 are cooperative and four are private.

As on November 30, seven (three cooperative and four private) sugar mills have started crushing. Remaining 13 sugar mills are presentely closed, due to less availability of sugarcane, less sugar recovery, financial sickness and paucity of funds, and lack of planning of sugarcane development in the region.

Less production of sugarcane is one of the reasons due to which these sugar mills remained closed. The state government had appointed a Committee under the chairmanship of Commissioner of Sugar for Planning to increase sugarcane area in Vidarbha region.

The Committee has since submitted its report to the Government.

Replying on revival of Super Bazar, the Minister said that the Super Bazar Dalit Karamchari Sangh has filed Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the order of winding up of Super Bazar. The Supreme Court in its order dated February 28, 2006, inter alia, observed that professional management of the Super Bazar is absolutely essential.

With a view to explore the possibility of having an arrangement under which the management of the Super Bazar may be entrusted to a body of professionals, the Supreme Court constituted a Comiittee of officials to consider all aspects of the matter. The Committee submitted its report on March 29, 2006 in the Supreme Court. On May 5, 2006, the Supreme Court directed the Committee to issue an advertisement in two national dailies for inviting bids to start Super Bazar afresh.

After the advertisement, Reliance Industries Ltd and Indian Labour Cooperative Society along with Indian Potash Ltd had submited their bids. These bids were opened by the Committee on June 8, 2006 and were evaluated by the Committee and a report was submitted in the Court on July 4, 2006.

The next date of hearing of the case fixed by the Supreme Court is December 12, 2006. Therefore, the matter is sub-judice.

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