56 co-op sugar mills slapped with Rs 2,500-cr I-T notice

Patil said the I-T department is demanding tax on payments made over and above the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) paid to cane farmers.

"Many factories in the state pay farmers higher than the FRP declared by the national body. Last year, the FRP was Rs 1,850 per tonne but many mills paid growers over Rs 2,400 per tonne. The I-T department is of the view payment by factories above FRP is profit and mills should pay tax on it. This argument is flawed as in the case of sugar mills owners, suppliers and sellers are farmers and whatever profit is made by selling sugar is shared by farmers. The mill isn't left with any money to pay I-T," said Patil.

3 new awards for co-operatives

AS the UN International Year of Cooperatives draws to a close, the state Co-operatives Ministry has instituted three awards to honour co-operative bodies for excellent performance.

The Sahakar Maharshi (Rs 1 lakh, memento and certificate), Sahakar Bhushan (Rs 51,000, memento and certificate) and Sahakar Nishtha (Rs 25,000, memento and certificate) will be handed over to 27 co-operative bodies in the first edition of the awards on December 2 at Balewadi Stadium by Governor K Sankaranarayanan.

"We received 102 applications of which 27 were selected," said Cooperatives Minister Patil. The first Sahakar Maharshi Award has gone to Shree Hanuman Sahakari Dudh Vyavasayik Wa Krishi Purak Seva Sanstha from Yedgul village in Kolhapur district.

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