The state government has decided to seize sugar stocks from the cooperative sugar factories that have not paid cane farmers as per the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) decided by the union government.
The state government has decided to seize sugar stocks from the cooperative sugar factories that have not paid cane farmers as per the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) decided by the union government.
The state would seek financial assistance to the tune of Rs200 per tonne from the centre, for enabling sugar factories to pay the FRP to the farmers.
State minister for cooperation Chandrakant Patil on Wednesday said that 160 cooperative sugar factories in Maharashtra have been served notices for not paying cane farmers as per the FRP decided by the union government. He said that these sugar factories have been given a deadline of seven days to pay up or else, "the sugar would be seized".
While addressing a press conference, Patil said that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis would be meeting union finance minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Saturday in this regard. He said means to help out factories to pay as per the FRP would be discussed during the meeting, and the state would seek an assistance of Rs200 per tonne from the union government, so sugar factories can pay FRP.
He added that the state government has already waived the sugarcane purchase tax which would result in a burden of Rs875 crore on the government.
Protests continue
Meanwhile, the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana led by Lok Sabha MP Raju Shetty is continuing its agitation. The protesting farmers even resorted to violence, setting ablaze a vehicle at Pune sugar commissioner's office. Shetty said that cabinet expansion in the state and his agitation have no connection, and that he would not mind sacrificing a cabinet berth for farmers' interests.
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