Maharashtra approves soft loans to sugar mills for clearing FRP dues

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved soft loans for cooperative sugar mills to clear pending Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues of farmers for the 2025-26 crushing season and support operations for 2026-27. The decision was taken during a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated. It said that the move to provide soft loans to clear FRP dues will provide relief to both sugarcane growers and mills. Addressing media ,Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says, "To ensure the smooth operation of cooperative sugar factories across the state, the state government today approved a soft loan policy worth nearly ₹750 crore, addressing the challenges faced by these mills this year."

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says, "To ensure the smooth operation of cooperative sugar factories across the state, the state government today approved a soft loan policy worth nearly ₹750 crore, addressing the challenges faced by these mills this… pic.twitter.com/OzBW5zMPqj

— IANS (@ians_india) September 15, 2026

In another major policy decision, the Cabinet approved setting up the Maharashtra Technical Assistance Cell (Maha-TAC) to evaluate 25 major state government policies and 25 key welfare schemes. The one-year evaluation project will be undertaken based on recommendations from the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIM Mumbai) and the Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP) to enhance overall governance and decision-making.
 The Cabinet also granted a stamp duty exemption on the lease agreement for a Nashik Municipal Corporation-owned study centre and library building leased to the Nashik branch of the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad. Apart from this, it cleared the free allotment of 6,240.30 square metres of government land in Arvi taluka of Wardha district to the local municipal council to construct a commercial complex. 
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965, and passed amendments to the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961, enabling the return of state farming corporation land in Haregaon village of Ahilyanagar district to its original owners. Among other decisions, the Cabinet sanctioned the creation of four administrative posts and approved the funding for the office of the Chairman of the Mumbai Police Housing Township Project, the CMO said.