Sugar mills demand transport sop

BS reports

The Maharashtra State Sugar Co-operative Factories Association Ltd. (MSCFAL) has asked the state government to give transport subsidy and compensate losses they might incur on recovery due to extended crushing season.

Due to good monsoon this year, Maharashtra's sugarcane production for 2006-07 season has increased by almost 80 per cent from 445 lakh metric tonne to 700 lakh metric tonne.

Now, the state government is pressing those sugar co-operatives and private sugar mills who have excess capacities to take responsibility of crushing sugarcane. The sugar co-operatives have shown willingness to take this burden but sought financial assistance from the government.