Shillong: The Shiv Sena (UBT) claims the Union Government’s ethanol-blended petrol policy is driving a sharp rise in sugar and jaggery prices. Retail sugar rates jumped Rs 17 in just 15 days, hitting Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kilogram. This spike causes public anger before Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri.
Uddhav Thackeray’s party blames the shift of sugarcane toward ethanol production. The government wants 20% ethanol blending in petrol. Despite production rising from 25.8 million tonnes to 27.6 million tonnes this year, domestic supply remains short. Officials now plan to import 1 million tonnes of sugar to stabilize the market.
The party mouthpiece, Saamana, attacked the government for its slow response to the crisis. It questioned why authorities wait until shortages are severe to enforce anti-hoarding rules. Current regulations now bar traders from holding over 10% excess stock for more than 15 days. The editorial stated, "As usual, the ruling authorities have woken up late."
Market intermediaries are pocketing the profits from these high prices. Sugarcane farmers see none of the gains. Inflation is spreading to other essentials like milk, onions, potatoes, and transport fares. The Thackeray camp dismissed the government's five-trillion-dollar economy goal as empty talk. They argue that policy incompetence is leaving citizens scorched as prices for everything from fuel to gold continue to climb.
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