PUNE: Maharashtra co-operative sugar mills have demanded that the Maharashtra government should procure from the co-operative mills for its public distribution system.
"We want the state government to procure sugar from the co-operative sugar mills. The Maharashtra state co-operative sugar factories' federation (Sakharsangh) can act as the nodal agency for this," said Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, chairman, Sakharsangh.
After the union government stopped levy operations on the recommendations of theRangarajan committee, it is now the responsibility of the state governments to procure sugar from the open market for the PDS operations. Various states in different stages of creating the new system. While Tamil Nadu has decided to procure sugar from the co-operative mills, many states are likely to adopt tendering process for buying sugar from the open market.
Maharashtra, the top sugar producer in the country, has not yet made any arrangement for sugar procurement for its public distribution system. The state government will soon have to take steps to make arrangements for procuring sugar for the PDS. The Federation wants that the respective district can buy sugar from the sugar co-operative that is closest to the district. "The state government should pay the transportation cost," said Mr Mohite Patil.
