Govt OKs export of sugar

Virtually declaring the crisis in the sugar industry as over, the Government today decided to allow export of white sugar against raw sugar imported this year under advance licence as a bumper sugarcane production of 180 lakh tonnes was expected in 2005-06, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said.

In keeping with its promise to bail out the crisis-ridden sugar mills which have been facing shortage of sugarcane, the Government also waived the 10 per cent levy on imported raw sugar, which is expected to touch 24 lakh tonnes during the current sugar season ending September, 2005.

‘‘I have decided that release orders be given to those factories which have imported raw sugar under advance licence and have export obligation to fulfill,’’ Pawar said.

He said that after carefully considering the question of levy obligation on import of raw sugar under advance licence, the Government has decided to exempt them from the 10 per cent levy obligation.