(a) the difference in terms of percentage in production, levy price and
consumer price of sugar;
(b) the measures adopted to reduce this difference;
(c) the efforts being made to import sugar and make it available to the
consumers at reasonable price; and
(d) if so, the details of its impact on the market price of the sugar?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): Production of sugar during the current sugar season 2010-11 is
estimated to be about 245 lac tons. 10% of sugar produced by every sugar mill
is requisitioned as levy sugar at a levy price fixed by Government under Section
3(3C) of Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The levy sugar price is fixed on zonal
basis. There are 19 zones, and the levy price for the sugar season 2010-11 varies
from Rs. 1744.10 per quintal to Rs. 2052.01 per quintal. The levy sugar so
requisitioned is distributed at subsidized price through Targeted Public
Distribution System to BPL/AAY families in the country except to North-eastern
states, Hill states and Island territories, where APL families are also covered.
The Retail Issue Price of levy sugar is Rs. 13.50 per Kg. which is uniform
throughout the country.
The balance 90% production of sugar is allowed to be sold as non-levy
(free sale) sugar subject to regulated releases. The consumer price of non-levy
sugar is market driven and determined by several factors like global and domestic
production, demand for sugar, market sentiments, etc. The retail price of non-levy
sugar is in the range of Rs. 30-33 per kg in the four metropolitan cities of the
country as on 03.03.2011.
(c) & (d): Government does not import sugar on its own account. However, with
a view to augment domestic stocks of sugar so that sugar becomes available to
consumers at reasonable price, the Government has taken several measures including
permitting duty-free import of raw and white/refined sugar upto 31.03.2011. As a
result thereof, about 66 lac MTs of raw and white/refined sugar have been imported
during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 sugar seasons. This has led to relatively stable
market prices of sugar at reasonable level.