Overview
- Maharashtra has imposed a levy of ₹10 per tonne for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and ₹5 per tonne for assistance to flood-hit farmers, citing the need for immediate support in Marathwada.
- Devendra Fadnavis said the contribution will come from sugar mills’ profits, estimating about ₹25 lakh per mill across roughly 200 mills, and criticized claims that farmers would be charged.
- Sharad Pawar called the levy “completely wrong,” urged the government to reconsider, and pressed for a detailed damage assessment and swift relief distribution.
- Pawar also said the state has yet to submit a final loss proposal to the Centre for additional aid, while a governing council meeting of sugar factories is slated for October 12 at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute.
- Farm leaders including Raju Shetti, Satej Patil, and Rohit Pawar opposed the levy as unfair, as officials cited a 2024–25 FRP of ₹3,550 per tonne with 99.06% paid, and the CM warned of action against mills accused of cheating on tonnage.