CM promises Rs 35 cr to upgrade sugar co-ops

To boost employment opportunities and check largescale migration from small towns to cities, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has promised financial incentives to sugar co-operatives.

“The government will provide Rs 35 crore to upgrade seven sick sugar co-operative units in the state,” he said addressing the 53rd Annual General Body meeting of the Association of the State Co-operative Sugar Industry at Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), Manjri village, near Pune.

Stating that the state government has a power deficit of 4000 MW, Chavan said the state government has instituted a committee so that it will be self-sufficient in power by 2012.

He said the state government has set a target to genarate five per cent of its electricity needs from non-conventional resources. For this it is encouraging sugar co-operatives to set up generating units. “But these units should be given adequate price for the electricity, which thay produce. The state government has entered into a power purchase agreement with private producers They will be paid Rs. 4.98 paise per unit.”

source; indianexpress