Sugar mills not to end crushing season without govt nod: Patil

Kolhapur, Jan 26 (UNI) Maharashtra Marketing Minister Harshwardhan Patil today said no sugar mill in the state could end its crushing season in the current year without the government's permission.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Patil said there has been an excess yeild of sugarcane. Therefore, at a meeting recently, which was attended by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, it was decided that all the sugarcane should be crushed so as not to cause a loss to the farmers. Besides the excess yeild in the state, around ten lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane are also expected to arrive from Karnataka.

The sugarcane crushing season, normally, runs for 160 days and ends around April. But, because of the government's decision, the season, this year, is likely to extend upto end of May, the Minister said adding that the government will soon issue a circular to the sugar mills not to conclude the crushing season without proper permission.

Mr Patil, who is the Kolhapur District Guardian Minister, said about 104 lakh metric tonnes sugarcane yeild is expected in the district, and about 50 lakh metric tonnes have been crushed so far. About five lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane would be used for jaggery production in Kolhapur, he informed.

Meanwhile, replying to a question, Mr Patil said about Rs 33 crore has been paid as compensation to flood-affected farmers in the district, and around Rs 12 crore would be disbursed soon.

He also informed that a regional sports complex will be created in Kolhapur and Rs 16 crore has been sanctioned for the same.

UNI