As a result of continuous efforts of the government, Uttar Pradesh has now become the highest (126.10 crore litres annually) ethanol supplying state in the country. Additionally, the UP government is steadily attempting to turn sugarcane into ‘green gold’ through ethanol and at the moment, an overall of 50 distilleries are manufacturing this stock. Just last year, two mills were producing this organic chemical compound from heavy molasses and this time, the number has increased to 20. Uttar Pradesh is the largest sugarcane producing state in the country and according to a government spokesman, out of the total sugar mills in India, 119 are here.
Maximum emphasis on modernization of old mills
Out of about 48 lakh sugarcane farmers, more than 46 lakh supply their sugarcane to the mills. The sugar industry here employs about 6.50 lakh people directly and indirectly. The spokesman also mentioned that state-of-the-art new mills, increased capacity of old mills and Khandsari units, are going to further promote the sugarcane industry.
The government has placed maximum emphasis on modernization of old mills and establishing of new mills. In this order, capacity of 11 mills was increased and new mills with advanced features were installed at Pipraich in Gorakhpur, Mundera in Basti and Ramala in Baghpat. For the first time in 25 years, an arrangement to issue online licenses to Khandsari units within 100 hours to crush sugarcane at the local level, has been initiated.
According to the government, at present, licenses have been issued to 105 units, increasing the crushing capacity. The state government also held a ‘Jaggery Festival’ in Muzaffarnagar to promote its consumption. To make jaggery more useful through processing, the officials have also declared jaggery a ‘one district one product’ in Muzaffarnagar and Ayodhya.
The UP Chief Minister has further given clear instructions, that as long as there is sugarcane in the field, sugar mills of that area should run. Along with crushing and payment, the government also set a record in the area of sugar recovery (11.46%).
