Uttarakhand sugarmills produce 32.32 lakh quintals of sugar

The sugar mills of Uttarakhand have produced 32.32 lakh quintals of sugar during the crushing season of 2011-12 and Rs 580.40 crore has already been paid by them to sugarcane growers.

During a meeting convened here yesterday by Sugarcane Minister S S Negi, Sugarcane commissioner Vikramajit Tiwari informed that all the 10 sugar mills of Uttarakhand have produced 32.32 lakh quintal of sugar by crushing 363.02 lakh quintal of sugarcane till March this year for the crushing season of 2011-12, an official release said.

The sugarcane growers have also been paid an amount of Rs 580.40 crore for their produce against the total payment liability of Rs 903.49 crore, he said, adding, the remaining dues of Rs 323.08 crore would also be paid shortly. Sugarcane Secretary S S Rawat said all the 6 sugarmills of public and co-operative sector and three out of four private sugar mills have already completed crushing of the sugarcane.

Only one private mill - Iqbalpur sugarmill - is still crushing the sugarcanes, he said. Rawat also apprised the meeting that nearly 1/6th population of Uttarakhand depends - directly or indirectly - for their livelihood on sugarcane and sugar industry.

Sugarcane Minister S S Negi asked the officials to promote those varieties of sugarcane in the state which give more yield in the climatic conditions of Uttarakhand and prove profitable to farmers as well as sugarmill owners. He also directed the officials to ensure timely payment of dues to sugarcane growers and review its progress on weekly-basis till the all dues are cleared.