Sugar Factory: 48 sugar factories in the state spent Rs 365 crore
FRP Sugarcane Factory : There are 211 sugar factories in the state. Meanwhile, in sugarcane sieving season 2022-23, the target of 1 thousand 53 lakh 91 thousand tons of sugarcane sieving was completed. Accordingly, the amount of FRP to be paid by the factories along with sugarcane harvesting was Rs 35 thousand 531 crores.
In fact, the factories have paid Rs 35,166 crores which is about 98.97 per cent of the FRP including the cost of cutting and transportation. But the sugar commissionerate informed that Rs 365 crore is still outstanding.
Sugar mills in the state have yet to pay Rs 365 crore for last year’s sugarcane price and remunerative price and FRP. Out of that, 48 sugar factories have paid this amount and 163 factories have paid hundred percent of FRP, the sugar commissionerate informed.
Pending FRP Question Sugar Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar has taken the statements of the concerned factories and heard their side. Even after that, confiscation action has also been ordered against the sugar mills that do not pay the amount of FRP as per the revenue recovery certificate.
Sugar production will decrease
In 2021-22, sugar production in Maharashtra was 13.7 lakh tonnes. This year it reached 105 lakh tonnes. In the 2023-24 season, the sugarcane belt of Karnataka including Maharashtra is likely to see a further decline in production due to lack of rainfall. The West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA) had forecast a 15 per cent decline in sugarcane production in Maharashtra to 10.3 lakh tonnes in August 2023. WISMA is likely to announce new estimates keeping in view the current situation.
Meanwhile, President of West Indian Sugar Mills Association B. B. According to the information given by Thombare to Chinimandi news agency, the situation is getting serious due to lack of rain in the state. Due to non-existence of expected rains from the month of June, the growth of sugarcane has been stunted and this will affect the production. If there is no rain in the future, the possibility of a 25 percent decline in sugarcane production in the state cannot be ruled out.
