Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the expanded Pravara Sugar Factory in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, and unveiled the statues of Padma Shri Dr Vithalrao Vikhe Patil and Padma Bhushan Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil. The event was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol. Earlier, Shri Shah visited Shirdi Sai Dham to offer prayers for the nation’s prosperity.Addressing the gathering, Shri Shah noted that more than 6 million hectares of farmland in Maharashtra have been damaged by heavy rains. He said the Centre has allocated Rs 31.32 billion to the state under its 2025–26 share, of which Rs 16.31 billion was released in April. He commended the Maharashtra government’s Rs 22.15 billion relief package for over 3.1 million farmers, which includes Rs 10,000 in cash aid and 35 kg of food grains per affected farmer. Additional measures such as loan recovery suspension, land revenue exemptions, and school fee relief have also been implemented.On behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shri Shah assured that the Centre would provide immediate support once the Maharashtra government submits a detailed report. He praised the leadership of Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar, stating that their joint efforts have strengthened the agricultural sector.He further honoured the legacy of Dr Vithalrao Vikhe Patil, founder of India’s first cooperative sugar mill, which brought prosperity to farmers across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. Shri Shah said that Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, his son, strengthened this cooperative movement and directed its profits toward education, health, and rural development.Shri Shah highlighted that the Dr Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Cooperative Sugar Mill, established in 1950–51 with a capacity of 500 tonnes of sugarcane per day, has now expanded to 7,200 tonnes per day, with plans to increase to 15,000 tonnes. The alcohol distillation plant’s capacity has grown from 15 kilolitres to 92 kilolitres per day, with approval for 240 kilolitres per day. Similarly, the ethanol plant has expanded from 20 to 150 kilolitres per day, the biogas plant from 12,000 to 30,000 cubic metres per day, and the cogeneration plant from 30 to 68 megawatts.Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India’s sugar sector has flourished — the number of sugar mills has risen by 67, sugar production has increased by 1 million metric tonnes, and ethanol production capacity has expanded fivefold, with 20 per cent ethanol blending now achieved. Shri Shah said these developments demonstrate how cooperative sugar mills have benefited since 2014.He added that the Modi government has waived Rs 100 billion in income tax dues for farmers and granted equal tax status to cooperatives and corporations. The Cooperative Settlement Act, enacted with retrospective effect, will relieve sugar mills of an annual Rs 44 billion burden.Shri Shah encouraged cooperative mills to convert ethanol units into multi-feed plants and to produce ethanol from vegetable waste, maize, and rice, with financial support from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). The government has already provided Rs 100 billion in NCDC loans and reduced GST on molasses from 28 per cent to 5 per cent. He also highlighted the government’s reduction of GST on 395 items, including zero GST on essential food products, benefitting households across India. Shri Shah echoed Prime Minister Modi’s appeal for citizens to avoid foreign-made goods this Diwali, emphasising that if all 1.4 billion Indians adopt this pledge, India could emerge as a global manufacturing leader before 2047. He urged cooperative sugar mills to produce multi-feed ethanol year-round and diversify into frozen vegetables, juices, and fruit pulp, partnering with NAFED and NCCF to strengthen India’s cooperative economy and agro-industrial resilience.