'Sugar export ban was aimed to crush mvts led by Mulayam, Pawar'

Lucknow, Jan 12: The ruling Samajwadi Party today welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision to lift ban on sugar exports and described it as a ''win-win-win'' situation for cane growers, sugar mills and consumers.

SP general secretary and UP Development Council chairman Amar Singh said here the delay in lifting ban on sugar exports was "a ploy to damage the sugar co-operative movement in Maharashtra, spearheaded by Union Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, and the cane growers' movement, headed by SP supremo and state chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav." ''The ban should have been lifted long ago...it was being delayed to damage the movements by Mr Pawar and Mr Yadav in their respective states,'' he alleged.

He said while on one hand, efforts were on to increase compensation for sugarcane growers, the government also wanted to provide sugar at reasonable rates to end consumers. ''It is a taboo to talks about the interests of the industrialists...after all, industrialists are there to make profits. The lifting of ban on sugar exports will help them get profits,'' he added.

He said UP's Sugar Policy was aimed to provide a 'win all' situation for sugarcane farmers, industrialists and consumers. ''The by-products of cane crushing include alcohol-based chemicals which help mills gain profits even after paying handsome amount to sugarcane growers and selling sugar at reasonable prices in the open market,'' he observed, interacting with reporters on the sidelights of a seminar on challegnges and possibilities of potato production in UP.

The Union Government last night lifted the ban on export of sugar with immediate effect in view of the comfortable position of the commodity in the country.

Briefing mediapersons after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP), Finance Minister P Chidambaram said in New Delhi that the decision was taken on the recommendations of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Department of Food.

The ban has been lifted after reviewing the norms, buffer stock position and production of sugar in the current season ending September 2007.

The production of sugar during the season is pegged at 23-24 million tonnes compared to the production of 19.3 million tonnes during last season.

The total availability of the commodity, including carry over stocks, is expected to be around 27.5 million tonnes as against the domestic consumption of 185-190 lakh tonnes.

Mr Chidambaram, however, made it clear that the exports will continue to be regulated under the export release order system.

UNI