Mumbai, Chinimandi: Controversy over fair and remunerative price (FRP) payment in Maharashtra is refusing to die down. Millers on January 8 met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss how to come out of this financial distress. They urged Fadnavis to give a subsidy of Rs 500 per quintal for the payment of FRP in one installment.
CM Fadnavis has assured that till January 10, the government will either try to give subsidy or increase the minimum selling price of sugar. Following which, millers have warned if CM fails to execute his assurance, then they will shut down the mills from January 11. Jaiprakash Dandegaonkar, vice-president of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation, former minister Prakash Awade, and NCP leader Hasan Mushrif was among the delegation which discussed the issue.
Fadnavis has agreed to approach and take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Solapur on January 9, and while interacting with delegation said, “We will request PM to grant subsidy or to increase the minimum selling price. Till January 10, a strong stand will be taken on this regard.”
The delegation, including millers, also met Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil and Agriculture Minister Sadabhau Khot and shared sugar mills plight with them.
Sugar factories have expressed their inability to pay FRP payments to farmers in a single installment and asked to increase the sweetener’s minimum selling price from Rs 2,900 per quintal to Rs 3,400.
