Govt yields to sugar lobby

Dehradun, Nov 1(PTI)The Uttarakhand government has set up an expert committee, comprising representatives of privatesugar mills and other experts in the field to decide the State -Administered Price (SAP).
The committee was set up after private mill owners moved
the high court challenging the government's SAP -- the rate at which millers buy sugarcane from
farmers--in 2007-08, saying it was done in an arbitrary
manner as the cane board, mandatory under the act regulating
supply and purchase of cane in the state, was not set up.
There are 10 sugar mills in the state out of which 6 are
in the government and cooperative sector and rest in private
hands.
The government brought in the Uttar Pradesh Cane
Regulation of Supply and Purchase Act, 1953 Amendment Bill
2009, in the state assembly for setting up the committee,
which will be headed by chairman of state cane development
advisory committee.
It also comprises agriculture experts, representatives of
sugarcane mills and cane growers. The committee is headed by
additional secretary Vinod sharma.(PTI)