Maharashtra: Centre assures purchase of entire ethanol output, says Cooperation Minister
The Centre assured purchase of all ethanol produced in Maharashtra and support for sugar mill loan restructuring. Maharashtra’s ₹25,000-crore farm loan waiver is expected to benefit 5.6 million farmers, while cooperative society computerisation and rural development projects are being accelerated.
Kolhapur: The Central Government has assured that it will purchase all ethanol produced in Maharashtra, providing a major boost to the state’s sugar and biofuel sectors, said Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil.
Addressing reporters in Kolhapur, Patil said the Centre has also issued necessary directions regarding the restructuring of loans for sugar mills and has expressed readiness to grant the required approvals. Based on these assurances, the Maharashtra government has prepared the necessary proposals to facilitate the process.
The minister said there is strong coordination between the Centre and the state on cooperative sector policies. He noted that the experience of Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in the cooperative sector has helped strengthen policy implementation and decision-making.
Patil emphasized that sugar mill operators need not be concerned about ethanol sales, as the Centre has taken responsibility for procuring the entire ethanol production from the state. The assurance is expected to provide greater confidence to sugar mills as India continues to expand its ethanol blending programme and biofuel production capacity.
Speaking on farm welfare, the minister said the Maharashtra government’s ₹25,000-crore Ahilyadevi Holkar farm loan waiver scheme is expected to benefit around 5.6 million farmers across the state. He indicated that further clarity on the implementation of the programme would emerge after the completion of the ongoing Legislative Council election process.
Patil also said the computerisation of cooperative service societies across Maharashtra is underway and efforts are being made to accelerate the programme. In addition, he assured that drinking water projects being implemented through the state water authority would receive funding based on the progress of work.
According to the minister, a study on the implementation framework of these schemes is currently being conducted by the Deputy Registrar of Cooperatives in Pune. The findings are expected to guide future policy decisions related to the cooperative sector and rural development initiatives.
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Source : ChiniMandi
