Asserting that sugar prices have come down substantially by Rs 152-175 per quintal in the wholesale market in the last fortnight after the government took stern steps, agriculture and food minister Sharad Pawar today said there was no need to import white sugar."There may be no need to import white sugar as we have enough stock for the current season," Pawar said, adding the estimated 120 lakh tonne sugar production this season, coupled with adequate carryover stocks, would meet the domestic requirements.He said there is no proposal to cut excise duty on sugar to check prices, and there may be no such requirement.Pawar, however, held the threat of utilising raw import sugar in the domestic market without the export obligation if the prices rise abnormally.The government had, on January 6, unveiled several steps to curtail spiralling prices of sugar. "The prices started coming down soon after the announcement of the measures," Pawar added.
