MUMBAI (Commoditiescontrol) - Uttar Pradesh sugar mills yet to clear Rs 1,457.50 crore arrears which is payable to sugarcane farmers for current sugar season's cane purchases, according to the data by Sugarcane Development & Sugar Industry Department of Uttar Pradesh.
As per the data, Uttar Pradesh sugar mills have been purchased the sugarcane worth of Rs. 25,386.77 crore during currents season between, 1st October 2016 to 15 July 2017. While, out of the total payable amount for the purchase, Uttar Pradesh sugar mills have paid about Rs. 23,929.27 crores of due as of September 11th, 2017.
However, Uttar Pradesh sugar mills have paid 94.26 percent or Rs 1,457.50 crore out of the total sugarcane arrears for current sugar season 2016-17 (October-September). In 2015-16 it was Rs. 46.79 crore, while in 2014-15 the arrear was Rs. 26.73 crore on same date.
On other hand, Central Government has advised to the Uttar Pradesh State Government to take strict action as per provision of law against the defaulting sugar mills to clear pending dues of farmers, as per the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966.
According to the that, sugar mills have to set out the payments of sugarcane price within 14 days of supply, while failing which interest at the rate of 15 percent per annum on amount due for the delayed period beyond 14 days is payable.
Although, state government has charged the interest of Rs 334.66 crore so far on outstanding amount.
However, out of the total outstanding about 86.85 percent or about Rs. 1,262.87 crore are owed by the state's private sugar mills, while rest amount Rs. 194.63 crore owed co-operative sugar mills.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh sugar mills have crushed 836.61 lakh tonnes of sugarcane and produced the highest sugar output so far at 87.73 lakh tonnes at recovery rate of 10.61 percent. In previous season Uttar Pradesh mills had 68.55 lakh tonnes of sugar output, thus the sugar production has increased by 28 percent year on year.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau: +91-22-40015532)