Sun Oct 05 14:58:03 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text and a news article based on it:

**Summary:**

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah lauded the ethanol blending program for its positive impact on sugar cooperatives and rural prosperity during a speech at a farmers’ rally in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra. He highlighted the growth of the cooperative sector under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and encouraged sugar cooperatives to adopt multi-feed ethanol production. He also assured Maharashtra of prompt Central support for farmers affected by recent floods, noting significant crop damage. He also addressed the relief provided to the affected farmers and changes made on the GST that will affect indigenous products. Shah also praised the renaming of Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar and Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. However, the Maharashtra government’s decision to impose a levy on sugarcane mills to fund flood relief has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, with Sharad Pawar calling it unjust to cultivators.

**News Article:**

**Shah Praises Ethanol Program, Promises Flood Relief for Maharashtra Farmers**

**AHILYANAGAR, MAHARASHTRA – October 5, 2025** – Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah today hailed the ethanol blending program as a major success for India’s sugar cooperatives, attributing improved financial health and rural prosperity to the initiative. Shah’s remarks came during a farmers’ rally in Ahilyanagar, where he inaugurated the expanded capacity of the Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Cooperative Sugar Factory.

Shah emphasized the growth and resilience of cooperatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, pointing to dramatic improvements in sugar cooperative balance sheets due to the ethanol blending program. He encouraged sugar cooperatives to diversify their operations by adopting multi-feed ethanol production, utilizing vegetable waste, corn, and rice during the off-season. He also added the National Cooperative Development Corporation will prioritize cooperatives over private entities for ethanol procurement.

Addressing the recent devastating floods in Maharashtra, Shah assured farmers of swift Central government support. He stated that he had discussed the situation with the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers, and that the Centre would act promptly upon receiving a detailed report on the damages. He cited the already significant relief provided last year, including ₹3,132 crore from the Centre and ₹2,215 crore from the Maharashtra government, benefiting over 31 lakh farmers.

He praised the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation, calling it a historic step that empowered sugar mills through schemes under the National Cooperative Development Corporation and celebrated the renaming of Ahmednagar and Aurangabad.

However, the Maharashtra government’s decision to impose a ₹15-per-tonne levy on sugarcane mills to fund flood relief has sparked controversy. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar criticized the levy as unjust to sugarcane growers and urged the government to withdraw it. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the decision, clarifying that the contribution would come from mill profits, not farmers’ earnings.

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