UP sugar mills rue closure of distilleries

Closure in wake of Kumbh Mela 2013

Already reeling under mounting sugarcane arrears, the Uttar Pradesh sugar millers are ruing the closure of several distilleries in the state in wake of the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Allahabad.

The mills are jittery that the lifting of molasses from sugar factories would be adversely affected following the closure and lead to the overflow of the molasses storage tanks.

The state excise department had recently ordered closure of a number of distilleries due to Kumbh Mela, which could prolong until March 2013.

In fact, UP Sugar Mills Association has already written to the state government top brass seeking immediate corrective measures in the larger interests of the farmers and the millers.

In its letter, Association secretary SL Gupta has maintained the closure of distilleries would adversely affect the lifting of molasses from factories and in some cases molasses lifting may be completely stopped. This would be detrimental at a time when the sugarcane crushing season was on in full swing and factories were working to full capacity.

The mills fear if molasses were not lifted, it would lead to overflow of molasses storage tanks and might even lead to halt in sugarcane in some cases, which would be against the interest of farmers.

Besides, the closed distilleries would also suffer financial losses and workmen would be idle, the Association letter reads.

Meanwhile, the mills have urged the government to review its closure decision and allow the distilleries to function, especially units which had installed effluent treatment plants or were making bio-compost out of effluent.

The free sale of molasses should be allowed during the time of the closure and its interstate movement be permitted to avoid overflow conditions.