Overview

• The state has imposed a levy of ₹10 per tonne on sugarcane for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and ₹5 per tonne for assistance to flood-affected farmers.
• Fadnavis estimates contributions at about ₹25 lakh per mill across roughly 200 mills, stressing the funds will not be taken from farmers’ earnings.
• Sharad Pawar called the decision “completely wrong,” pressed for a rethink, and urged immediate government support based on a full damage assessment.
• Pawar cited Vasantdada Sugar Institute data indicating severe sugarcane losses in Marathwada and western Maharashtra, with a governing council meeting of sugar factories set for October 12.
• The chief minister accused some mills of cheating farmers on tonnage and vowed action, as the government maintains the levy is needed for rapid relief; official data show FRP for 2024–25 at ₹3,550 per tonne with about 99% of payments disbursed.