Sale of sugar mills: Lokayukta closes probe

VM Singh had filed the complaint with UP Lokayukta in October 2010,alleging the two sugar mills in Amroha and Bulandshahr were sold at price much lower than market rate.

Singh had complained the Amroha Sugar Mill,which has a cane crushing capacity of 3,000 metric tonnes per day and is spread over an area of 31 hectares,was sold for just Rs 13.94 crore,while the land alone was worth around Rs 250 crore.

Similarly,the 32-hectare Bulandshahr Sugar Mill,which has a cane crushing capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes per day,was sold for Rs 29.75 crore when the market value of the land was around Rs 225 crore,Singh had alleged.

Last month,Secretary of the Cane Department Kamran Rizvi had sent an affidavit to the Lokayukta,saying the sale of sugar mills was a cabinet decision which does not fall in the jurisdiction of Lokayukta. On this,the Lokayukta had asked for a rejoinder from the complainant.

“I have not received any reply from the complainant and also there is a court case pending on the same matter so it cannot be investigated,” said the Lokayukta.

Meanwhile,Singh said he did not receive the letter from Lokayukta as he was from Pilibhit for a long time. He would put this point before Lokayukta for continuing the investigation,he added.