Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Sugar Mills Association (UPSMA) on Tuesday rejected claims that diversion of sugar for the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme was responsible for the domestic sugar shortage and recent spike in its prices.In a statement, the association said the alleged assertions were completely unfounded and baseless.“In fact, the share of sugar diverted for ethanol production has declined over the years. Moreover, UP happens to be the largest ethanol supplier in the country,” the association said, adding that the member mills of UPSMA had robust and comfortable stock levels.The association also refuted reports of supply shortages, attributing the recent retail price distortions to speculation.“Member mills across the state are maintaining sufficient carryover and running stocks to meet both festival-season and routine domestic consumption requirements. The narrative of an impending shortfall is a rumour and we urge consumers and the media not to fall prey to alarmist misinformation,” the association said.The association asserted that it was in regular touch with govt authorities and stood ready to start or ramp up operations as soon as directed, ensuring timely responsiveness to demand and policy requirements.The association added that state govt was closely monitoring the situation and taking adequate measures to prevent hoarding and curb the spread of misinformation by those seeking to exploit the current environment for illicit gains.Uttar Pradesh is the largest sugar-producing state and has 121 sugar mills, of which 95 are in the private sector. These mills collectively form a critical backbone of domestic sugar supply.UPSMA reiterated that all its member mills continue to supply the market as per the sugar sales quota released on a monthly basis by department of food and public distribution (DFPD), Govt of India.
