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An amount of Rs. 6201.11 crore as cane price dues pertaining to 2003-04 sugar season has been paid by the private mills to the farmers, leaving cane price arrears to the tune of Rs. 25.63 crore. For the current sugar season, 2004-05 (till February 28,.2005) which closes on September 30, 2005, an amount of Rs. 4687.46 crore has been paid towards cane price payment, leaving an arrear of Rs. 581.65 crore.
This information was given in Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh in a written reply to a question of Shri Motilal Vora and Smt. Prema Cariappa.
The responsibility of ensuring timely payment of cane price dues to the sugarcane growers lies with the respective State Governments. The Central Government, on its part, besides, writing to the State Governments for speedy clearance of the cane price dues, have taken the following steps:
The levy obligation of the sugar factories had been reduced to 10% w.e.f. March 1, 2002, to enable the factories to sell more sugar under non levy quota in the open market.
A total amount of Rs. 404.66 crore has been disbursed towards maintenance of 20 lakh tonnes of buffer stock by the sugar mills to facilitate liquidity position of the sugar mills enabling them to make payment of cane arrears, the minister informed.
SBK:CP:rajya(f)29.4
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