(a) whether the Government proposes to lift all controls and regulations imposed on sugarcane based industries to develop its own strength and face free trade regime under World Trade Organisation;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reason therefor; and
(d) the other measures suggested for growth of sugarcane based
industries in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI V. SREENIVASA PRASAD )
(a), (b) & (c) : Sugar industry is the major sugarcane based
industry in the country. Since sugar is an essential commodity, it is
duty and responsibility of the Government to make it available to the
consumers at reasonable prices. In order to ensure its availability to
consumers at reasonable prices as also to ensure fair realisation to sugar
mills, Government has put reasonable restrictions on its production, supply
and distribution. Recently, Government has taken certain measures to
remove or relax the restrictions/ controls as under:-
(i) Sugar industry has been delicensed in September, 98.
(ii) Government has liberalized the sugar trade by lifting the stock holding limit imposed on recognised dealers of sugar, but the turn-over period limit of 30 days has been retained which has been made applicable to domestic as well as imported sugar vide Notification date 7-7-2000.