Governor’s assent for Sugarcane Act

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has given assent to the recently amended Karnataka Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase and Supply) Act and for the constitution of Sri Male Mahadeswaraswamy Kshethra Development Authority.

The Act proposes to form an expert committee (Sugarcane Control Board) for calculation of actual realisation in sugar factory and also to advise the government.

“The government can now make the process of purchase and supply of sugarcane more transparent,” HS Mahadev Prasad, Minister for Cooperation and Sugar, said in the State Secretariat.

“We have also commenced an exercise to nominate sugarcane growers and factory owners to the Sugarcane Control Board. The reconstituted board will give equal representation to sugarcane growers and sugar factory owners representing all revenue divisions in the state,” he added.

For price realisation, the experts committee or board will look into local factors such as actual recovery of sugarcane, realisation of sugar and its by-products such as bagasse, press mud and molasses and ethanol or other productions directly produced from sugarcane juice without producing sugar for deciding additional sugarcane price.

The amended act also defines ‘year’ as the year commences on July 1 and ending on June 30.

Prasad said the cooperation department has facilitated procurement of sugar for public distribution system by helping the food and civil supplies department to buy entire 30,000 tonnes produced by Mysugar Company, Mandya. Food and civil supplies department has given an advance of Rs 10 crore.

Prasad said the Governor had also given his assent to the formation of Male Mahadeshwara Hills Authority at Mahadeswara Hills in Kollegal taluk, Chamarajanagar district.

Sri Male Mahadeswaraswamy temple with annual revenue of Rs 18 crore is the second richest after Sri Kukke Subramanya in Puttur, taluk of Dakshina Kannada.

The Authority is expected to develop and maintain Sri Male Mahadeswaraswamy temple and also provide all amenities to the pilgrims visiting the hill shrine, protect its culture and to promote it as a tourist centre.

The ruling Congress government had introduced and passed the Sri Male Mahadeswaraswamy Kshethra Development Authority Act, 2013 and now the act has come into effect.

Prasad said now the work to constitute an authority under the Chairmanship of the chief minister and district in charge minister is in progress.

The authority will also include Members of Parliament, legislators, non-officials and officials as members. A Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer and Muzarai department thalsidar will function as deputy secretary of the authority.

“A master plan for Sri Male Mahadeswaraswamy Kshethra is being prepared by the authority and its maintenance will be taken up after the first meeting which will be held in October,” said Prasad.