'Govt to decide on sugar exports after real estimate'

The government will take a decision on allowing normal export of sugar after getting reasonable estimates of sugar output for the current year, Parliament was informed today.

"No decision to export sugar under open general licence has been taken by the government," Minister for Food and Agriculture Sharad Pawar said, while replying to a written query in Lok Sabha today.

He said the matter will be reviewed after 'getting actual figures and dependable estimates' of production of sugar during the current sugar.

The government has allowed re-export of sugar under advance authorisation schemes or advance licence schemes as well as export of raw and white (refined sugar) lying at ports, Pawar said.

The minister said that it has been decided to consider all aspects of decontrol of sugar including its availability, price situation, its impact on cane growers, distribution of sugar through public distribution system in consultation with state governments and other stakeholders to build a consensus.