RAJSHAHI. Apr 3: Rajshahi Sugar Mills has been incurring loss during the last few years due to inefficiency and unabated smuggling of Indian sugar into the country, reports UNB.

Official sources said the mill incurred a cumulative loss of Tk 55.56 crore during the last eight years though It earned a profit of Tk 2 crore 22.37 lakh during the fiscal 1990-91.

The year-wise losses since then are as follows: Tk 7.09 crore in 1991-92 crushing season. Tk 9.56 crore in 1992-93. Tk 2.04 crore in 1993-94, Tk 24 lakh in 1994-95. Tk 7.13 crore in 1995-96. Tk 10 crore in 1996-97. Tk 7.50 crore in 1997-98 and Tk 12 crore in the current 1998-99 season.

A reliable source informed that one of the reasons of recurrent loss was transportation problem of sugarcane. There were about 56 buying centres of the mill at different places, they said adding that after buying, the sugarcanes are to keep at the centres for about five to six days. This causes less production as the canes dry up during this period, they said.

Besides, the number of hand and power crushers in the command area of the mill has increased much in the recent years causing supply shortage Of sugarcane to the mills.

The authorities failed to produce sugar according to the target set earlier due to these reasons.

An official who preferred not to be named told UNB the mill earned profit during the post-liberation period. This years. But with the onslaught of smuggled Indian sugar in the market coupled with inefficiency in the industrial management led the industry to the continuous losses.