Molasses

Summary of The Bombay Molasses Rules, 1955

Note: This document is NOT a single gazette amendment. It is a consolidated compilation of the Bombay Molasses Rules, 1955, showing the base rules as originally enacted (1955) along with a chronology of 19 subsequent amendments made between 1956–2009.

DOCUMENT TYPE: Consolidated Rules (Base + Amendment History)

Base Rules: G.N., R.D. No. 1169/51 dated 22nd July 1955
Authority: Section 143 of the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 (Bom. XXV of 1949)
Supersedes: Bombay Molasses Rules, 1947

Amendment History (19 amendments listed):

1. G.N., R.D. No. MLS. 1155, dated 8th June 1956
2. G.N., R.D. No. BPA. 1056, dated 26th July 1957
3. G.N., R.D. No. MLS 1059/146154-J, dated 14th January 1960
4. G.N., R.D. No. MLS 1059/14154-J, dated 1st February 1960
5. G.N., H.D. No. MLS 1060/35611-III, dated 24th December 1960
6. G.N., H.D. No. MLS. 1159/192740-III, dated 25th August 1962
7. G.N., H.D. No. SMP. 1261/61106-III, dated 4th April 1963
8. G.N., H.D. No. BPA. 1059/55336-III, dated 25th July 1963
9. G.N., H.D. No. MLS. 1962/32533-III, dated 9th September 1965
10. G.N., H.D. No. BPA. 1059/55336-III, dated 12th March 1968
11. G.N., H.D. No. MLS. 1067/40724-III, dated 21st August 1968
12. G.N., H.D. No. MLS. 1668/36645-III, dated 19th August 1969
13. G.N., H.D. No. BPA. 1088/XIX-PRO-2, dated 16th March 1988
14. G.N., H.D. No. BPA. 1090/IV/PRO-3 dated 21st March 1990
15. G.N.H.D. No. MLS. 1094/1/V/ Exc-2, dated 22nd March 1994
16. G.N.H.D. No. MLS. 1595/5/ Exc-2, dated 25th July 1996
17. G.N.H.D. No. MLS. 1995/5/ Exc-2, dated 6th December 1996
18. G.N.H.D. No. MLS. 1096/II/ Exc-II, dated 12th July 1999
19. G.N.H.D. No. MPL. 0209/C.R. 72/ Exc-2, dated 30th November 2009

SCOPE OF THE RULES:

The Bombay Molasses Rules, 1955 regulate the production, possession, sale, transport, import, export, and use of molasses in Maharashtra under the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949.

Key Regulatory Framework:

1. LICENSING REGIME (Rules 3–11, Forms M-I to M-III-A):

2. IMPORT/EXPORT/TRANSPORT PERMITS (Rules 12–21, Forms M-IV to M-VI):

• Import License (Form M-IV): Required to bring molasses into Maharashtra from outside the state
• Export License (Form M-V): Required to send molasses outside Maharashtra
• Transport Permit (Form M-VI): Required for intra-state movement of molasses

3. LICENSE FEES (Rules 3, 4, 5 — as amended over time): The fee structure was repeatedly revised (notably by amendments in 1963, 1988, 1990). Final fee scales by 1988/1990:

• M-I (Producer): Graduated by annual molasses production tonnage:

  • ≤5,000 MT: Rs. 500/year
  • 5,001–10,000 MT: Rs. 1,000
  • 10,001–15,000 MT: Rs. 5,000
  • 15,001–20,000 MT: Rs. 7,500

  • 20,000 MT: Rs. 10,000

• M-II (Non-producer possession):

  • Government/educational/scientific/medicinal/sample purposes: Rs. 10
  • Agricultural purpose (mixed with liquid tar): Rs. 10
  • Cattle-feed: Rs. 100
  • Other commercial uses: Rs. 100–Rs. 10,000 (graduated by molasses volume)

• M-III (Sale): Rs. 500/year (inclusive of consideration)

• M-III-A (Cattle-feed, small-scale): Rs. 5

• Import/Export License: Rs. 50 each

• Transport Permit: Re. 1 per metric ton (as of 1990 amendment)

4. RECORD-KEEPING & ACCOUNTS (Rules 38–40, Forms M-A to M-G): Licensees must maintain detailed daily accounts of molasses receipts, issues, sales, stock balances:

• Form M-A/M-B: Tank/receptacle-wise accounts (M-I producers)
• Form M-C: Monthly statement (M-I producers)
• Form M-D/M-E: Accounts & monthly statement (M-II non-producers)
• Form M-F/M-G: Accounts & monthly statement (M-III traders)

5. OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS (Rules 22–37):

• All storage tanks/receptacles must be serially numbered, clean, and open to inspection
• Molasses removal from tanks requires valid transport permits
• Licensees must provide office accommodation, facilities, and residential quarters for Prohibition & Excise staff
• Excise escort required for road transport
• Maximum selling price regulated by State Government
• Licensees must display licenses conspicuously, maintain visit books, comply with all lawful orders

6. SUPERVISION & ENFORCEMENT (Rules 26–27):

• Commissioner appoints supervisory staff for receipt/storage/issue/removal operations
• No molasses can be received/issued from storage tanks except under supervision of appointed officer (double-lock system)
• Operations restricted to working hours (Sundays/holidays require prior permission)

7. QUALITY CONTROL (Rule 30, as amended 2009): Officers may take free samples for chemical analysis by:

• Western Maharashtra Development Corporation Ltd., Pune
• Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune
• Government of India Chemical Analyser

8. DOMESTIC USE EXEMPTION (Rule 41): Persons may possess/transport molasses without license/permit for domestic purposes up to a quantity specified by Commissioner/Collector for each local area.

KEY SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS (Notable Changes Over Time):

• 1960 amendments: Added cattle-feed as permitted use; inserted Forms M-III-A for small-scale cattle-feed licenses
• 1963 amendments: Revised fee structures; allowed multi-year licenses (up to 3 years) for M-I and certain M-II purposes; replaced Mamlatdar with Mamledar/Tahsildar
• 1965 amendment: Major overhaul of account Forms M-A to M-G; changed measurement units to Quintals
• 1968 amendments: Modified loss/wastage accounting columns in Form M-C
• 1988 amendment: Introduced application fees (Rs. 10 for M-I/M-II/M-III); revised license fees upward significantly; introduced "inclusive of consideration" language; added renewal provisions (Rules 3A, 4A, 5(3))
• 1990 amendment: Changed transport permit fee to Rs. 1 per metric ton
• 1994 amendment: Further fee/procedural adjustments
• 1999 amendment: Deleted certain fee provisions
• 2009 amendment (Rule 30): Updated approved chemical analysis laboratories to current institutions

PRACTICAL EFFECT:

These rules establish a comprehensive permit-raj system for molasses control in Maharashtra, balancing:

• Industrial/distillery needs (spirit/power alcohol production)
• Agricultural needs (cattle-feed, fertilizer)
• Government revenue (license fees, excise duties)
• Quality control and anti-diversion measures (detailed record-keeping, supervision, escort requirements)

The rules have been progressively amended to rationalize fees, modernize procedures, expand permitted uses (cattle-feed), and update institutional references while maintaining tight regulatory control over molasses movement and use.