New Delhi: The Centre on Monday blamed the Uttar
Pradesh government for the high retail prices of sugar, but it
could not say by when the prices would cool down.
Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a ban on processing
of imported raw sugar since a farmers` protest over cane
prices in November, leading to about eight lakh tonnes of raw
sugar lying at ports.
"Imported raw sugar is lying at Kandla port for more than
two months as the UP government is not allowing millers to
process," Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told
reporters here.
UP Chief Minister Mayawati reacted sharply to Pawar`s statement, saying it was "most irresponsible and insensitive" comment made by a responsible minister.
"Agriculture Minister holding UP responsible for hike in sugar prices indicates that he has the tendency of shying away from his responsibilities. Such a statement is most irresponsible and insensitive towards people," Mayawati said in a statement.
Sugar is selling at Rs 45 per kg in retail markets in
Delhi, more than double from the level in January 2009.
To ease prices, the government is also considering
extending the import window of white sugar by nine months till
December.
"When there is insufficient availability in the country,
in such situation, if they (millers) would have processed, per
month additional 2.5 lakh tonnes would have become available
and this would have brought down prices," Pawar said.
Noting that he has already written to UP government for
lifting the ban on raw sugar processing, Pawar said: "We have
not been able to convince them and will try to request at
highest level...we will resolve the UP problem with CCP."
The Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP) is scheduled to
meet tomorrow to discuss price rise in food items particularly
sugar, which has seen its prices rising by Rs 6 a kg at Rs 45
since the beginning of the year.
PTI
