Date:23/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/23/stories/2004092305870300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Others

Sugar co-op on the brink

By Our Correspondent

CHITTOOR, SEPT. 22. The Chittoor Cooperative Sugar Factory will incur a loss of Rs. 4.50 crores if it is not run during the season, according to the report of the technical committee constituted by the Government, said N. P. Ramakrishna, its chairman, and Bhaskar Reddy, managing director. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday they said the factory had not undertaken crushing last season due to privatisation. Farmer leaders approached the High Court which stayed Government orders for privatisation and the matter was pending in the Supreme Court.

The Government had decided to revive the factory and run it in the cooperative sector. The technical committee visited the sugar factory and recommended permission for crushing sugarcane this season.