In a serious breach of the government’s price-control agreement, sugar mill owners have sharply increased sugar prices, triggering widespread concern over regulatory failure and consumer exploitation.
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Official documents reveal that the government and sugar mill owners had mutually agreed to cap the sugar price at Rs 171 per kilogram. The agreement allowed a modest increase of only Rs 6 per kilogram between August 15 and November 15, following a prior revision from Rs 165 to Rs 171 per kilogram in July.
Despite the formal commitment, sugar mill owners raised the price to Rs 229 per kilogram — an excessive hike of Rs 58 per kilogram beyond the agreed limit. The documents now indicate that sugar prices have effectively slipped out of government control, placing additional financial strain on households already grappling with rising living costs.
No action has yet been taken against hoarders or profiteering mills, raising pressing questions about the government’s enforcement capacity and its willingness to hold violators accountable.
Economists and consumer rights groups have strongly criticized the unchecked surge in prices, calling for swift government intervention to curb profiteering and restore market stability.
