Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has sharply criticized the Maharashtra government, accusing it of forcing sugarcane farmers to contribute to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). He argues that the government should directly aid rain-affected farmers instead of imposing a new levy on sugarcane mills, and he has urged them to reconsider this decision.
The government’s recent move involves a new charge on sugarcane processed by mills, with the aim of channeling funds to farmers severely impacted by floods. This policy has drawn significant backlash.
“I am truly surprised that the Maharashtra government chose to levy an additional charge from sugarcane cultivators to provide financial support to Marathwada farmers devastated by floods. I appeal to the government to withdraw this decision immediately,” stated Mr. Pawar.
Last week, the government announced a levy of ₹10 per tonne of sugarcane directed to the CMRF, along with an additional ₹5 per tonne specifically for flood relief efforts.
This new imposition has sparked widespread disapproval among agricultural leaders. Figures like Raju Shetti, Congress MLC Satej Patil, and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar have openly opposed it, labeling it as “unfair” and an undue “financial burden” on the farming community.
However, the government defends its stance, asserting that this measure is crucial for delivering prompt assistance to the flood-stricken families in the Marathwada region, which bore the brunt of the recent heavy rains and floods.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified his position on Sunday, October 5, 2025. He emphasized that the contributions would be drawn from the profits of sugarcane mills, not from the farmers’ hard-earned income.
“Maharashtra has approximately 200 sugar mills. Each mill might be expected to contribute around ₹25 lakh to the CMRF. We are specifically seeking funds from the mills’ profits, not from the farmers,” Mr. Fadnavis explained during an event in Ahilyanagar, also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
He strongly rebuked critics, accusing them of misinterpreting the government’s intentions. “Some individuals have resorted to baseless accusations, claiming the government is taking money directly from farmers. The reality is that these contributions come from mill profits and are designated for flood-affected farmers in Marathwada. Furthermore, some mills have even been caught exploiting farmers through inaccurate tonnage measurements. I intend to expose these wrongdoings,” the Chief Minister asserted.