SATISH HANDA

In order to reduce increasing losses in sugar mills in Haryana, worried state government has decided to increase production and introduce new items in all existing mills and decided to start production of Jaggery (Gud and Shakkar) and refined sugar to reduce losses in these sugar mills with immediate effect. According to information, there are 14 sugar mills in Haryana state, which include 10 cooperative sugar mills under the management of state government, one sugar mill owned by HAFED and three private sugar mills in the state. Information reveals, jaggery to be produced in these sugar mills in pieces like sweets will be supplied in the market as well as hotels and restaurants to earn extra profits. Preparation for production of refined sugar in most of the sugar mills has been completed and management of these sugar mills taking up matter for supplies to railways, restaurants and hotels, besides regular supply of refined sugar in five and ten grams packets.

Talking to media persons Haryana Co-operative Minister Dr Banwari Lal said that in coming cane crushing season in November this year production of jaggery in cubes will start at Kaithal and Palwal cooperative sugar mills. According to management of sugar mills, they are incurring losses every year due to higher production cost due to increasing minimum support price of sugar cane by the government and increase in labour cost. Dr Banwari Lal said that chief minister Manohar Lal Khatter has already given permission to start production of jiggery, refined sugar and other products in all sugar mills facing financial crisis since past few years. He said, production of refined sugar has already started at Rohtak sugar mill having good response in the market and production for the same will start shortly at Gohana and few other sugar mills in the state. There is a proposal to start production of Ethanol a chemical widely used in chemical based industries in the country and plant to manufacture the same has already been commissioned at Shahabad sugar mill, followed by installation of similar plants in other sugar mills in the state.

Dr Banwari Lal told that there is a planning to manufacture electricity from cane waste in sugar mills for which experiments are going on at Kaithal sugar mill, which would not only save cost of power supply in the sugar mills but also can be sold other consumers. He disclosed that services of experts technical directors are being sought in all cooperative sugar mills in the state enabling to increase profits because these sugar mills are being presently controlled by administrative officers of state government lacking technical knowledge and there is every hope that after appointment of technical people in sugar mills good results will be obtained by these sugar mills and with such changes in the management and production good results will be obtained in all sugar mills.