The food ministry has asked sugar factories to submit details of the quantities of sugar sold each month in May-August by September 12, as the government wants to ensure that traders do not undersupply during the festival season. This is seen as part of the Center’s efforts to curb the rise in prices of essential goods. In an order issued late on Friday to all sugar mills, copies of which were marked to the three major sugar mills and trader’s associations, the ministry asked that it be distributed to its members for wider distribution.
Issued under Section 5 of the Sugar Control Ordinance, 1966, mills are required to submit details of sugar sold to “other traders/grocers other than sugar mills” by September 12. The government has also provided a form in which information must be shared. “In order to have complete information on the sugar supplies of sugar traders, retailers, wholesalers, large retail chains and processors, etc., to ensure sufficient availability of sugar at a reasonable price in the country”, the government decided to collect the data.
However, some sugar mills have expressed surprise at the order, as the deadline given is too short to fulfill it. “Firstly, it is our business and information from buyers should not be asked for PAN information etc., even though sugar is a necessary commodity. Any information the government wants can be shared within a reasonable time if it is past information”, said a factory owner who asked not to be named. But many other factories said it is not a problem because all the records/data were computerized. Under the split format, the factory has to submit the quantity purchased by each buyer along with PAN number, GST number and mobile number every month from May to August.
The government should not panic because the country has enough sugar reserves when domestic consumption is 27.5 million tons and production is 32.8 million tons. Both carried stocks and exports were at the same level at 6.1 million tons.