Mah govt to discuss sugarcane related problems with PM

Mumbai, May 21 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said his government was serious about solving the problem of additional sugarcane produce and committed to provide all assistance to the farmers and co-operative factories.

He was speaking at a meeting with representatives of the sugar co-operatives at Mantralaya here.

The sugar co-operative representatives stressed the need of intervention of the Centre to rescue the beleaguered sugar industry.

The state government should request the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting to discuss the issue,they said. Mr Deshmukh agreed and said that he would take the initiative.

He said the crushing of the additional sugarcane is on but still there is lot of cane remaining. The state government has already announced that it will be pay rs 25,000 per hectare if the sugarcane remains uncrushed later. The farmers are demanding increase in the financial aid amount. Considering the seriousness of the issue, it would be discussed in the state cabinet, Mr Deshmukh added.

Finance Minister Jayant Patil, Minister of State for Urban Development Rajesh Tope, Minister of state for co-operation Jaiprakash Dandegaonkar and MLAs Gopinath Munde and Yashwantrao Gadakh were among those present on the occasion.

UNI