In a step that would be welcomed by the sugar industry, the Uttar Pradesh government has finally lifted the restriction on movement of imported raw sugar in the state.
In a letter written to the Indian Railways, the Uttar Pradesh cane commissioner has said that in the light of the fact that the sugar crushing season was coming to an end many sugar mills in both the state and the private sector already closing due to non availability of cane, the state government would not have any objection if the Railways once again starts providing rakes for the transportation of raw sugar to the private mills.
?In view of agitation by sugarcane farmers, which could have resulted in the law and order situation getting out of hand and in order to save Railway property from being destroyed, the Uttar Pradesh government had requested the Railways not to allow the transport of raw sugar within the state. But the 2009-10 crushing season is almost on its last leg in the state, and many sugar mills in the state, including the private, cooperative and corporation mills have started closing due to unavailability of sugarcane. The availability of remaining sugarcane for crushing is also low, which effectively means that crushing will not continue for long and sugarcane farmers, too, have got fair and competitive prices this year. Inthis situation, if the process of transporting raw sugar to the state is once again started now, it would actually land at the factories when the cane crushing is about to end. In this context, I request you to consider these facts and the changed situation, and take appropriate action in this regard,? Cane commissioner Sudhr M Bobade has written to Suchito K Das, executive director traffic & transport, ministry of railways.
It may be mentioned that in view of the deteriorating law and order situation in western Uttar Pradesh, which was on the boil over the sugar issue, the Uttar Pradesh government has written to the Railways to halt the transportation of imported raw sugar in the state.