Cabinet authorises CM to decide SAP for sugarcane

The UP Cabinet discussed the issue of a state advisory price (SAP) for sugarcane at a meeting on Tuesday, but left the decision to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

"The issue was discussed but no final decision was taken. The Cabinet has authorised the CM to take a final decision," said senior minister Azam Khan, emerging from the meeting. The state government had constituted a group of ministers, comprising Agriculture Minister Anand Singh, Tourism Minister Moolchandra Chauhan and Zoo Minister S P Yadav, for studying the details of cane SAP. The group submitted its report last week.

The cane crushing season has begun and private sugar mills have started operations. The co-operative sugar mills at Baghpat and Dhanaura too have begun crushing. The opposition parties, and also the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), are demanding that the government announce the SAP for cane without delay.

Last year, the SAP was Rs 250 per quintal for the early variety, Rs 240 per quintal for the late variety and Rs 235 per quintal for the unapproved variety. This time, the Congress has demanded Rs 325 per quintal, while the BJP has demanded Rs 400 per quintal and threatened to disrupt the proceedings of Assembly's winter session, beginning on Friday. The BKU has, meanwhile, demanded Rs 390 per quintal. "Already several mills have started crushing but the SAP has not been declared. It is a pressure tactics by the state government at the behest of sugar mill owners," alleged Rakesh Tikait, general secretary of BKU.

Other decisions

In another decision, the Cabinet gave its nod to construct an international standard swimming complex in Saifai village of Etawah, which is the native place of Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, at a cost of Rs 103 crore. It will consist of a practice pool, a main pool, a diving pool and other facilities as administrative block, gymnasium, VIP gallery, housing facility for players.

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