Mah Govt to file cases against sugar coop fail to provide SMP

Sangli, Nov 8 (UNI) Maharashtra co-operation minister Patangarao Kadam today said the state government has directed the concerned department to file criminal cases against those sugar factories that had failed to pay statutary minimum price (SMP) Rs 811 as first installment to the cane supplying farmers.

Addresing a news conference here, Mr Kadam said the government had declared the SMP, whose implemention is mandatory for all the sugar factories across the state.

Of the total 195 sugar factories in the state, some 152 are expected to crush sugarcane in the 2008-09 year. Those factories that have over 50 per cent of sugarcane available with them can crush the crop, he informed.

The government is examining ways to provide assistance to those credit cooperatives that have provided 20 per cent loan to the farmers as per its directives, Mr Kadam added.

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