Why ASKA-40 liquor prices not hiked for so long: Aska MLA

BJP's Aska MLA Saroj Kumar Padhi expressed his deep concerns on Wednesday over the stagnant price of local brand liquor ASKA-40, questioning why it has remained unchanged for the past five years.

Addressing the operational challenges faced by the local sugar mill, MLA Padhi stated, “Why hasn’t the rate gone up in such a long time? The Odisha State Beverages Corporation is responsible for maintaining the current price at Rs 60 per bottle.”

Also Read: Nayagarh sugar mill revival hangs in balance, farmers tell tale of unfulfilled political promises

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi yesterday ordered the formation of a ‘task force’ to examine options for reviving the sugar mill in Aska. This team will comprise officials from the departments of Agriculture, Finance, Cooperation, Excise, and Water Resources. Their mandate is to study the arrangements in Maharashtra and other states and to provide recommendations for the revival.

Revival measures pertaining to the Aska sugar mill will be taken at Odisha government's end, based on the report of the task force, the CM expressed in a review meeting.

Must Read: Baramba Sugar Mill in Odisha’s Cuttack to go under the hammer

The meeting also addressed strategies to boost sugarcane production in the State, including the incentives required to encourage farmers to adopt large-scale commercial cultivation, ensuring fair pricing, timely payments, and the provision of additional extension services.

“The Excise Minister and other senior officials were present in the review meeting and all of them agreed to the inevitability of the price hike of ASKA-40. The production cost and selling price have hardly a difference of around 70 Paise,” MLA Padhi said mediapersons.

“Price has not increased for so many years and I have demanded a hike,” Padhi added.