Given the strong precipitation and losses related to floods in certain parts of the State, the government announced last week that it would impose a levy of ₹10 per tonne of sugar cane on factories for the chief minister’s rescue fund (CM) and ₹5 per tonne to obtain aid to farmers affected by floods.
Opposition leaders, however, allegedly alleged that the decision would negatively affect farmers.
Speaking during an event in a sugar factory, Fadnavis said: “There are about 200 factories in the state. ₹25 Lakh at CMRF. We are looking for funds from Sugar Mills, not farmers. “He criticized those who criticized the decision, saying that they interpret it badly.
“Some people have placed themselves so low that they portray this as the government taking money from farmers. The fact is that the contribution comes from the benefits of mills and will go to farmers struck by floods in Marathwada. Some mills have even been found in farmers in tonnage. I will show them the mirror,” said the chief minister.
The former Minister of the Union and President of the NCP (SP), Sharad Pawar, however criticized this decision, saying that he was “surprised” by the government’s decision.
“I am surprised that the Maharashtra government has decided to charge an additional levy of sugar cane cultivators to provide financial assistance to marathwada farmers struck by floods. I hope that the government of the state changes its decision,” said Pawar.
The government had declared that the price of the fair and the remuneration (FRP) for the 2024-25 season had been set to ₹3,550 per metric tonne with a basic recovery rate of 10.25%. About 200 sweets, including 99 cooperatives and 101 private, a crushed cane is worth ₹31,301 crores, with 99.06% of the FRP already disbursed.
Several agricultural leaders, including Raju Shetti, the deputy for the Satej Patil congress and the deputy NCP (SP) Rohit Pawar, opposed the tax, the appellant “unfair” and a “financial burden”.
However, the government of the State argued that the measure was necessary to ensure immediate relief from families affected by the floods in Marathwada.