Speaking at a sugar factory event on Sunday, CM Fadnavis said that there are around 200 mills in the state. One mill may have to contribute about Rs 25 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). We are asking for this amount from mill profits, not from farmers
CM Fadnavis dismissed these claims as deliberate misinterpretations. File Pic
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the state government’s decision to impose a levy on sugar mills, stating that the contribution will come from mill profits and not from farmers’ earnings, reported the PTI.
In response to recent criticism from Opposition leaders, CM Fadnavis clarified that the funds will support relief efforts for flood-affected areas in Marathwada.
Speaking at a sugar factory event on Sunday, he said, “There are around 200 mills in the state. One mill may have to contribute about Rs 25 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). We are asking for this amount from mill profits, not from farmers,” according to the PTI.
The state government last week announced a levy of Rs 10 per tonne of sugarcane for the CMRF, and Rs 5 per tonne for aid to flood-hit farmers that led to backlash from several political leaders, who claim it places an unfair burden on cultivators.
CM Fadnavis dismissed these claims as deliberate misinterpretations.
“Some people have stooped so low that they are portraying this as the government taking money from farmers. The reality is that the mills are contributing from their profits, and this money will go directly to flood-affected farmers in Marathwada,” he said, as per the PTI.
He also alleged that certain mills have previously been caught cheating farmers in tonnage, and vowed to take action.
On the same day, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar voiced his opposition, expressing surprise over the decision.
“I am surprised that the Maharashtra government decided to charge an extra levy from sugarcane cultivators. I hope the government reconsiders this decision,” Pawar stated, as per the PTI.
According to official data, the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for the 2024-25 sugarcane season has been fixed at Rs 3,550 per metric tonne with a base recovery rate of 10.25 per cent. So far, around 200 sugar mills--99 cooperative and 101 private--have crushed cane worth Rs 31,301 crore, with 99.06 per cent of FRP payments already made.
Despite assurances from the state, several farm leaders, including Raju Shetti, Congress MLC Satej Patil, and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, have criticised the levy, calling it “unfair” and a “financial burden” on the sugar sector, the news agency reported.
The state government maintains that the move is essential to provide immediate support to flood-hit families in Marathwada, one of the worst-affected regions due to excessive rainfall this year.
(with PTI inputs)
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