(a) whether his Ministry has decided to establish National Institute of Sugarcane and Sugar
Technology (NISST) at Mau during 1993-94 when already similar Institute (NSI, Kanpur) existed
resulting into unproductive expenditure of Rs. 16.72 crore as on September, 2001;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons for establishing NISST at Mau, and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to control wasteful expenditure like this?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI ASHOK PRADHAN )
(a),(b)&(c): The Central Government decided to establish the National Institute of Sugarcane
and Sugar Technology (NISST) at Mau in Uttar Pradesh in 1993-94. The objective for setting up
the Institute was to conduct short-term courses for sugarcane farmers and the technicians of
the sugar industry mainly from Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and also to provide extension
services to sugarcane farmers and sugar industry in that region. At a later date, it was
decided to introduce teaching courses at post graduate level in the fields of Sugarcane
Technology, Sugar Technology, Sugar Engineering, Industrial Fermentation & Alcohol Technology
and also to conduct the research work in these fields.
The Central Monitoring Group, in its meeting held on 27th January, 2000, recommended as
follows:-
`As the National Institute of Sugarcane and Sugar Technology, Mau has not yet fully
developed as an Institution, though a substantial investment has been made in infrastructure
like buildings; the group strongly recommended the winding up of this Institution and transfer
of the buildings along with land to any Central Agency, which is looking for accommodation in
this area. If no such central institution shows any interest, the Department should also
explore the possibility of transferring the assets to the State Governments. The specialized
functions, if any, which are to be performed by this Institute could as well as be entrusted to
the NSI, Kanpur which has a good track report in promotion of sugar technology and in training
of personnel for eventual employment in sugar industry.`
Pursuant to the recommendations of the Central Monitoring Group, Government has taken up
the matter of transfer of the assets of NISST to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) so that the assets created at NISST, Mau and the capital expenditure incurred on it can
be fruitfully utilised by the Council which is a body under the Ministry of Agriculture and
Cooperation. The Planning Commission has conveyed its no objection to ICAR for taking over and
utilizing the assets and the infrastructure at NISST, Mau.