The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Plan ready to revive five sugar factories

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 09, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Plan ready to revive five sugar factories

Staff Reporter

They will be leased to private parties for modernisation

S.A. Ravindranath

BANGALORE: The Government has decided to revive the State-owned Raibagh, Vanivilas, Bhadra, Aland and Brahmavar sugar factories by leasing them to private parties.

Minister for Sugar S.A. Ravindranath told presspersons here on Thursday after a meeting with officials of his department that the Government would lease the five sugar factories to private parties on the condition that they ensure their modernisation and expansion.

The Government had taken measures to get the privately owned Kampli sugar factory reopened and instructed the private sector Mahadeshwara sugar factory to resume production from the current season. It had also taken steps to hasten construction of the Dhanalakshmi, Markandeya and Someshwara sugar factories , which were coming up in the private sector.

Referring to payment of arrears to farmers who had supplied sugarcane to the factories, he said that of the outstanding Rs. 1,867.61 crore, the Government had cleared Rs. 1,820 crore. Asked about the pending inquiry into the affairs of 13 government-owned sugar factories that had suffered huge losses, the Minister said he had directed the officials concerned to initiate action against those responsible for the losses.

About the proposal to set up a sugar development fund in the State, he said the Law Department was of the opinion that the State could not establish such a parallel fund as the Centre had already set up one for the same purpose.

The Government would send a committee of officials to Maharashtra to study the benefits extended to sugar factories there, he said.

Horticulture university

Minister for Horticulture Shashikant Naik said it had been decided to establish an exclusive university for horticulture in North Karnataka.

The Government had taken the decision considering the need to develop horticulture, its export potential and growing demands for horticultural produce from the State in the domestic and international markets, he told presspersons here on Thursday.

He would be discussing the matter with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy shortly, Mr. Naik added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka