Karnataka Minister faces backlash after saying govt unable to control sugar mills

Sugar Minister Shivanand Patil came under pressure from members of the Karnataka Assembly to act against sugar mills that are resisting setting up weigh bridge by the government in the light of complaints by farmers of mills cheating them on cane weight.

During a discussion on the problems in north Karnataka, Mr. Patil, who intervened while Congress member Laxman Savadi was speaking, acknowledged that private sugar mills were not allowing setting up of weigh bridge inside the factory premises. “If they do not permit, we cannot install the weigh bridge,” he said.

“You (Minister) cannot say ‘we cannot install it’. You are the government. You have the power to seize a factory”R. Ashok Leader of Opposition, Karnataka

Taking exception to Mr. Patil’s statement expressing inability, Mr. Savadi said that the mills would fall in line if electricity supply is disconnected to the mills. “Convene a meeting of Sugar, Weights and Measures and Power Department, and take a decision to cut off power to industries that are resisting the installation of weigh bridge. Government has permitted functioning of the industry, and the government can control it.”

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok said, “You (Minister) cannot say ‘we cannot install it’. You are the government. You have the power to seize a factory.”

Congress member from Magadi H.C. Balakrishna also took exception, and asked what stops the government from acting against the industries that are not co-operating.

During the discussion, the Minister informed that the government had released money to install 12 weigh bridges to be managed either by farmers’ association or FPOs, and that tenders had been called. “To encourage farmers to provide information on cheating in weight, we have kept a prize money of ₹5 lakh. However, farmers have not come forward with the information.”

Earlier, Mr. Savadi said that unless the minimum support price for sugar is revised, sugar mills in co-operative sector would be forced to close. “The Centre can take over the sugar mills in the co-operative sector. We cannot compete with private sugar mills under the current MSP for sugar and FRP for sugarcane.”

The Janata Dal (Secular) member representing Gurmitkal Sharanagouda Kandakur urged the government to create a separate budget for north Karnataka. “Take up one sector for focussed development every year. Education, health, infrastructure and irrigation could be taken up over five years, and develop the region.”