₹3,333 cr invested in new projects in last 4 years
PRAYAGRAJ : With a view to developing sugar mills as well as other traditional alternatives for supply of sugarcane, a total 275 new licences of Khandsari (raw sugar) units have been issued by the state government during the past four years—most in UP in last 25 years—, say officials in the know about it. The move also aims at developing small-scale industries in rural areas and local employment generation, they add.
“Having simplified the rules related to the establishment of Khandsari units in the interest of cane farmers in the last four years, the total investment on these projects is estimated to be Rs 1,161.20 crore,” said additional chief secretary, sugar industry and cane development, Sanjay R Bhoosreddy in a communiqué.
He said a total investment of about Rs 3,333 crore, including Rs 1,161,.20 crore on Khandsari units, had been made in the last four years in various projects related to sugar industry. The importance of the move can be gauged from the fact that sugarcane cultivation is prevalent in the state as a cash crop and is the main source of livelihood for about 45 lakh sugarcane farmers and their families and workers engaged in direct and indirect employment in this area.
Bhoosreddy said to keep the system of cane supply smooth and to promote small rural industries and as an additional option for the supply of sugarcane, in 2018-19 the department made arrangements for online licensing by implementing the new Khandsari policy.
“Under this arrangement, so far 275 new licences (crushing capacity 69,450 TCD) have been issued, due to which investment of Rs.1,161.20 crore is possible in rural areas. Against the above, operation of 176 units (crushing capacity 43,802 TCD) has been started so far, under which an investment of Rs 388 crore has been made,” he added.
In order to make the farmers economically prosperous by motivating them to cultivate sugarcane again in Purvanchal region, new sugar mills of 5000 tons of cane per pay (TCD) capacity namely Pipraich and Munderwa were operationalised by establishing sulphur-free sugar production plant.