Sugar Decontrol

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa protests partial decontrol of sugar sector

  The Tamil Nadu government today strongly protested the Centre's decision to partially decontrol sugar sector, saying the move to remove levy obligation on sugar mills and decontrol the regulated release mechanism will adversely impact supply of the sweetener through Public Distribution System (PDS).

• Food Ministry to notify sugar decontrol steps this week

  The Food Ministry is likely to notify this week its decision to give freedom to mills to sell sugar in the open market and removing their obligation to supply the sweetener at subsidised rates for ration shops.

• Sugar decontrol to up subsidy bill by Rs 2,500 crore: Chidambaram

  The governments subsidy bill will shoot up by Rs 2500 crore per year on account of decontrol of sugar, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Saturday.

• Sugar futures up as government partially decontrols sector

  Sugar futures prices today rose sharply by Rs 31 to trade higher at Rs 3,039 per quintal as speculators expanded their positions after the government partially decontrolled the sugar sector. But ample supplies in the market capped the gains.

• Sugar stocks surge 20% on partial decontrol

  Sugar stocks rose as much as 20 per cent after the Cabinet approved partial decontrol of the sugar sector. Smaller sugar firms such as KM Sugar and Oudh Sugar Mills soared 20 per cent in early trade.

• Cabinet removes sugar sector curbs to clip output swings

  India, the biggest sugar consumer, will no longer force mills to sell sugar to the government at a discount and will not limit the amount they can sell in the open market, Food Minister K.V. Thomas told journalists on Thursday after the Cabinet agreed the changes.

• Cabinet okays decontrol of sugar sector

  In October last year, a panel headed by Dr C Rangarajan, the Chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, had recommended the removal of two control measures - the regulated release mechanism and the levy sugar obligation -- immediately and of other restrictions gradually.

• Sugar stocks sweeten on hopes of price decontrol

  Sugar stocks rose by as much as 3 per cent in an otherwise weak market on Monday on expectations of partial decontrol of the sector.

• Economic Survey pitches for sugar decontrol in phases

  Although the country is the world's largest consumer and second biggest producer of sugar, the sector "suffers from policy inconsistency and unpredictability", it said.

• Sugar decontrol decision likely in 15 days: Food Minister

  The Centre is likely to take a decision on giving freedom to the Rs 80,000 crore sugar industry to sell the sweetener in the open market in the next 15 days, Food Minister K V Thomas said on Friday.

• Sugar price to be decontrolled: Food Minister

  Mr. Thomas also announced that the government will be abolishing the levy sugar curbs but will ensure the common man does not get affected, even though the retail price in the PDS is Rs 13.50 and cost of production is Rs 25.

• Government to decide on sugar decontrol before Budget: Thomas

  The Centre will take a decision on giving freedom to the Rs 80,000 crore sugar industry to sell the sweetener in open market before Budget, Food Minister K V Thomas said today.

• Government may form inter-ministerial panel on sugar decontrol

  In order to fast track decontrol of sugar sector, the government is mulling setting up an inter-ministerial panel to review recommendations of the Rangarajan Committee on sugar deregulation.

• Govt to take call on sugar decontrol report by December

  The government is considering the Rangarajan Committee report on sugar decontrol and will take a decision on removing some of the curbs on the sector by next month, Food Minister K V Thomas said today.

• A sweetener for sugar manufacturers on the cards?

  In its draft report, the Rangarajan committee suggested that the sugar industry be completely decontrolled and producers not be asked to sell their output at a discount.