Bitter taste of sugar likely to hit State soon
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 11 2013:
With the Government of Manipur yet to lift its monthly quota of sugar directly from sugar mills in sync with the new procurement policy, there is every possibility that traders will be calling the shots in fixing price of the commodity.
Under a new procurement policy, Government of Manipur's Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (CAF&PD) is supposed to purchase/lift sugar directly from production units and provide the same to the public at subsidised rate.
Confirming failure of the CAF&PD to lift the State's quota till date, an informed source speculated that price of sugar hitting the Rs 100 mark per kilogram in a month or two is a distinct possibility for business sharks would be certain to take undue advantage of scarcity of the essential commodity.
With the Government of India deciding to relinquish control of sugar inspite of the same being a listed item of public distribution system (PDS) State Governments concerned were advised to directly purchase sugar from sugar mills at existing market price and provide the consumer item to the public at subsidised rate with a special arrangement under which the Centre would reimburse the loss incurred by the States.
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Consequent to the Central Government policy, the previous practice of routing sugar to the respective States through the Food Corporation of India ceased since June this year and Manipur too was supposed to get its monthly quota from its own resources.
The policy entails purchase of sugar at Rs 32 a kilogram as per June rate and distribute the item at Rs 13.50 to the public, the source said while confiding that Manipur Government had identified sugar mills in Uttar pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra but cannot proceed with the actual purchase following financial indisposition.
In addition to need for three months advance release of fund to avoid procedural backlogs, it is mandatory to deposit in advance to the sugar mills concerned, clear transportation charge and set up or hire a godown at the nearest railway station (Dimapur), explained the source.
With even the initial process yet to commence it is very remote that the State Government would be able to implement the new sugar policy, conceded the source and further revealed that not a single bag of sugar is left in the State's possession after the FCI involvement ceased.
The only remaining sugar which the Government of Manipur can claim is said to be pending quantity of about 1412 metric tonne from the FCI to the State for May month.
Currently sugar is priced at Rs 37-38 in the Imphal market while in the exterior locations the rate is dearer by Rs 3-6 .
It is said that Manipur needs 1763 metric tonne of sugar every month.