The controversy on price structure and commencement of sugarcane crushing season ended on Wednesday when 25 mills, out of 28, fired up their boilers. According to sources close to Sindh Cane Commissioner office, 24 sugar mills have lighted up their boilers to commence crushing season, while one has already started crushing operation from October 1. They said the report from Pangrio and Shah Murad Sugar Mills had not been received till close of office hours.
These sources said that there would be no change in price structure as mills owners have been directed to pay the notified price of Rs 43 per 40 kg to growers.
They said that the millers' plea that the notified price would not be economically viable has been ruled out on the ground that recovery of molasses in Sindh is much higher than Punjab and, moreover, they are also getting benefit of transportation of cane which is being transported up to the mills gate.
Meanwhile, PSMA Sindh members give the impression to media that the provincial government had agreed to their demand and the mills would start crushing from November 1, 2004, but the Cane Commissioner office said that mills would have to issue indents within a week's time so that the growers could start harvesting of their crop.
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