Expedite decision on sugar export policy: Prithviraj Chavan to C Rangarajan

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today asked the committee appointed by the Centre on the sugar industry in the state to expedite decisions on export policy, fair and remunerative price (FRP) to sugarcane, and levy sugar.

Chavan met the committee chairman, noted economist Dr C Rangarajan, here, official sources said.

The committee has been appointed to look into issues such as de-controlling of the sugar industry, availability of sugar at fair price, policy on import and export, price of ethanol, density of sugar factories in an area, etc.

There are 170 sugar factories in the state, including 119 cooperative and 51 privately owned. Almost 45 lakh families of sugar producers are dependent on this industry which has turnover of Rs 35,000 crore.

Around 10 lakh labourers work in the industry and the state gets revenue of Rs 1,533 crore per year. About 650 mw power is also generated from this sector.

Minister for Agriculture Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Minister for Cooperation Harshavardhan Patil, Minister for Rural Development Jayant Patil, Minister for Animal Husbandry Madhukarrao Chavan, Minister of State for Planning Rajendra Mulak, Chairman of State Cooperative Sugar Federation Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil and Chief Secretary Jayant Banthiya were present at the meeting.