Hapur: The sale of 71,000 quintals of sugar at ₹300 per quintal below the rate fixed by sugar mill management has triggered a significant controversy, reaching the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Following the issue being raised in the assembly session, the Sugarcane Department has swung into action, demanding crucial information related to the sale, reports Live Hindustan.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Arajnaitik district president Pawan Hoon Gurjar had earlier accused the management of Simbhaoli and Brijnathpur sugar mills of large-scale irregularities in the sugar sale, demanding a thorough investigation and strict action. Subsequently, Hapur’s BJP MLA Vijaypal Arhti raised this very issue in the assembly. Taking serious note of the matter, the state’s Sugarcane and Sugar Mills Minister Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan directed the Principal Secretary of the Sugar Industry and Sugarcane Development to conduct a detailed inquiry into the entire episode and submit a report.
In line with these directives, the Deputy Sugarcane Commissioner of the Meerut division, Rajesh Mishra, has sent letters to the management of both Simbhaoli and Brijnathpur sugar mills, instructing them to provide essential information. The details sought by the department include the date and medium of publication of the tender related to the sale of 71,000 quintals of sugar at ₹300 below the fixed rate, records pertaining to the blacklisting (if any) of agent Mohan Lal Subhash Chand’s firm, copies of the invoices for the sugar sold, and a list of all the firms contacted for the said sugar sale.
Earlier, after the issue was raised by the BKU, the mill management had convened a meeting at their Noida office. They had clarified that the 71,000 quintals of sugar from the previous year had a higher moisture content, which necessitated its sale at a reduced rate of ₹300 per quintal. However, with the matter now being brought to the forefront by the Hapur MLA and the subsequent order for investigation and action by the Sugarcane Minister, the sugarcane department is fully mobilized to probe the alleged irregularities.
