Ritika
A delegation of BJP leaders led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Amit Shah on Tuesday to demand redressal of problems in the sugar industry. At this time the Central Cooperative Ministers gave assurance on the delegation.
‘There was a positive discussion with Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah regarding strengthening and enabling the sugar industry in the state,’ Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told the media after the meeting with Shah. ‘On behalf of Maharashtra, I would like to express my gratitude to the Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. He has taken the sugar industry very seriously. Margin money, working capital, debt restructuring and primary agriculture societies should be strengthened,’ the Chief Minister said. The chief minister expressed hope that the decision would benefit the sugar industry in Maharashtra.
‘Exporter’s quota (for sugar) is available. Maharashtra being a coastal state, we can export sugar through our ports. The minister either took a legislative approach on the issue and gave assurances to increase the quota or take appropriate decisions,’ Fadnavis also said.
When asked about the absence of Shiv Sena, Congress and Nationalist leaders from the delegation, the Chief Minister said that no discrimination is done on the basis of party and the government is trying to take steps for the benefit of the entire sugar industry.
Fadnavis said that he informed the delegation about the proposal to strengthen 20 additional baby co-operative societies and strengthen the primary agriculture department.
Or sitting BJP leaders Raosaheb Danve, Pankaja Munde, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Harshvardhan Patil, Dhananjay Mahadik etc. would have been present.
There is a need to increase the quota of 20 lakh tonnes
A senior BJP leader said that the sugar export quota would have been fixed at 60 lakh tonnes and there is a need to increase it by at least 20 lakh tonnes. Due to this, the region can get the benefit of higher prices in the international market. An early decision regarding increasing the export quota would enable Indian sugar producers to conclude contracts on time and would benefit from the prevailing high rates, he said.
