Sugar mills cannot reject sugarcane weighed at certified private weighbridges: Maharashtra Sugar Commissionerate
Pune: Sugar mills in Maharashtra cannot reject sugarcane weighed at any private weighbridge certified by the Legal Metrology Department, the Sugar Commissionerate has clarified. If a discrepancy is found between the weight recorded at a private weighbridge and that at a sugar mill, the farmer will have the right to file a complaint, which will be taken up for a hearing, Agrowon reported.
The Sugar Commissionerate had previously issued instructions to sugar mills to prevent irregularities in cane weighing. However, complaints from farmers about discrepancies in recorded weights have continued to rise, prompting Sugar Commissioner Dr Sanjay Kolte to issue fresh directions to curb malpractices.
The Commissionerate has clarified that sugar mills cannot take action against farmers, vehicle drivers or labour contractors merely because sugarcane has been weighed at a private weighbridge. Mills also cannot deliberately bypass the queue of cane-laden vehicles weighed at private facilities.
Further, cancelling a farmer’s sugarcane registration for the following season or terminating their membership of a cooperative sugar mill on the grounds that the cane was weighed at a private weighbridge would be considered impermissible.
Complaints over weight discrepancies to be investigated
The Commissionerate has stated that discrepancies between weights recorded at certified private weighbridges and sugar mill weighbridges will be investigated. Farmers can lodge complaints if mills fail to follow the prescribed instructions intended to ensure transparency and prevent irregularities.
Farmers may approach the Regional Joint Director of Sugar or the district Deputy Controller of the Legal Metrology Department to report such complaints, an official from the Sugar Commissionerate said.
Complaints persist despite flying squads
Flying squads operating under the district collectors have been established to prevent irregularities in sugarcane weighing. However, farmer organisations continue to raise concerns over differences in recorded weights, delays in providing weighing records and a lack of transparency in the weighing process.
Sugarcane growers allege that the weight recorded at private weighbridges is sometimes higher than the weight registered at sugar mills. They contend that rejecting private weighbridge records results in financial losses for farmers and allows weighing irregularities to go unchecked.
Legal Metrology Department backs acceptance of certified weights
The Sugar Commissionerate had sought guidance from the state Legal Metrology Department on the issue. In its response, the department clarified that the verification and stamping of weighbridges follow a uniform procedure under the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.
Accordingly, the department said rejecting sugarcane weighed at a privately operated weighbridge solely because it is a private facility would be an improper practice if the weighbridge has been officially certified by the department.
The clarification is expected to provide relief to sugarcane farmers by strengthening their ability to challenge discrepancies in weighing records. Farmers will now be watching how the authorities enforce the directions and address complaints of under-weighing and other irregularities at sugar mills.
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