Nearly 48% of sugar mills operating in Maharashtra privately-owned December 14, 2020 × In the last decade, the number of private sugar mills has risen constantly, thanks to ailing cooperatives dominated by politicos, say experts In 1951, India’s first cooperative sugar mill was set up at Pravaranagar in Ahmednagar district and the cooperative movement since gained roots in the State. However, financial mismanagement, lack of professional approach and mills becoming a source of finance to cater to ambitions of politicians has been ailing the cooperative sugar mills. Today, the sugar cooperative is losing its space to private players. Out of 171 sugar mills operating this season, 48 per cent (82 mills) are private.