Maharashtra cracks down on sugar mills over FRP dues; recovery action initiated against seven units
Maharashtra has initiated recovery proceedings against seven sugar mills over unpaid FRP dues of Rs 232.80 crore owed to farmers. Authorities intensified action after mills failed to clear payments despite hearings and extensions, with Solapur district accounting for Rs 138 crore in pending dues.
Kolhapur: The Maharashtra Sugar Commissionerate has intensified action against sugar mills that have failed to clear farmers’ cane dues, initiating Revenue Recovery Certificate (RRC) proceedings against seven sugar factories over pending Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) payments amounting to Rs 232.80 crore.
The action covers sugar mills located in Solapur, Dharashiv, Ahilyanagar, Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts. Proceedings were already underway against Gokul Sugar in Solapur district, and additional mills, including Bhima Takli Sikandar and Sant Kurmadas, have now been brought under the recovery process.
According to officials, the seven mills collectively owe farmers Rs 232.80 crore in unpaid sugarcane bills.
The move follows hearings conducted by the Sugar Commissionerate last week involving 54 sugar mills that had failed to clear outstanding payments. Mills were given an opportunity and additional time to settle dues, but recovery proceedings were launched against those that did not comply within the stipulated period.
The issue remains particularly serious in Solapur district, where a significant amount of FRP and declared cane price payments remain unpaid, placing financial strain on sugarcane growers.
Data released by the Sugar Commissionerate as of May 15 showed that 12 sugar mills in Solapur district alone have outstanding FRP dues of Rs 138 crore.
During the 2025-26 crushing season, 35 sugar mills in the district crushed nearly 15.97 million metric tonnes of sugarcane. Against this, around Rs 4,192 crore has been credited to farmers’ bank accounts. However, substantial pending payments have continued to fuel dissatisfaction among growers.
Speaking to ChiniMandi, Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner Sanjay Kolte said the department has been working since the start of the crushing season to ensure timely cane payments to farmers.
He noted that several mills failed to make FRP payments within the prescribed timeframe. The department first conducted hearings and provided additional time for compliance, but recovery action became necessary after payments were still not made.
Kolte emphasized that securing full payment of sugarcane dues to farmers remains the department’s top priority and that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure growers receive their pending amounts.
The latest action signals a tougher stance by the state government as it seeks to enforce payment obligations and protect the interests of sugarcane farmers across Maharashtra.
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Source : ChiniMandi
