Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has stressed for a balanced policy for the distribution of molasses. He said that welfare of sugarcane farmers, sugar and distillery industries would be considered while chalking out the policy.
A Five- member Committee headed by Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain had been constituted to draft appropriate policy for distribution of molasses including Principal Secretary Industry Rakesh Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DK Kotia, Secretary Finance Radha Raturi and Secretary Excise SS Rawat as its Members.
Chief Minister Bahuguna, during the meeting with officers of concerned departments, representatives of distilleries and Sugar Mills at Conference Hall of CM Residence on Tuesday asked the distilleries and sugar mills to bring improvement in their performance. He pointed out that these industries had an important role to play as financial resources of the state. He said that such a policy for distribution of molasses be drafted which would neither have a bearing in state's economy nor in the wellbeing of sugarcane farmers, sugar mills and distilleries. He said that decision would be taken on reserving quantity of molasses for domestic use, export and for distilleries keeping in view the interests of the state.
When he was informed about the MoU signed with the Uttar Pradesh for the trading of molasses between the two states that ended in 2009, the Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to hold discussion with his UP counterpart to revive the MoU again. He stressed on budget management by sugar mills to check their losses. Responding to the demands of Fodder producers to distribute molasses to them on district level, Mr. Bahuguna directed the Secretary Excise to look into the matter and do the needful.
Also present in the meeting were Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DK Kotia, Principal Secretary Industry Rakesh Sharma, Secretary Excise SS Rawat, representatives of distilleries, sugar mills and fodder producer.