The Centre has withdrawn the draft Sugarcane (Control) Order, 2026, saying it will revisit the proposed framework after receiving objections from state governments and other stakeholders, PTI reported.The Food Ministry had circulated the draft order for public comments with a May 20 deadline. The proposal sought to replace the 60-year-old Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966, with a new regulatory framework that, among other changes, proposed bringing the ethanol and khandsari sectors under government regulation.“Based on the suggestions/comments received from state governments and other stakeholders, it is considered necessary to revisit the draft Sugarcane (Control) Order, 2026,” the ministry said in an office memorandum.The draft drew opposition from khandsari units and farmers, particularly over a proposal to redefine khandsari units.Under the proposed framework, a khandsari unit would have been defined as one employing more than 10 workers and having a crushing capacity of over 500 tonnes per day. Under the existing rules, a khandsari unit is defined as one with 20 or more workers and there is no crushing-capacity limit.Sources said the proposed definition would have brought a large number of small-scale, labour-intensive units under the regulatory ambit, potentially affecting farmers who generally receive better prices from khandsari units than from sugar mills.The representation against the draft centred on concerns that tighter regulations could impact the functioning of smaller units and alter procurement dynamics in key sugarcane-growing regions.Reacting to the government’s decision, BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan, who represents Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, said on social media that the draft order had been withdrawn “in the interest of farmers”.“This demonstrates that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government formulates every policy by placing the consent of the farmers and their welfare above all,” he said.The withdrawal means the government will revisit the draft before proceeding with changes to the existing Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966.
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