The Uttar Pradesh government today hiked cane price by Rs 40 to a maximum of Rs 250 per quintal. Chief Minister Mayawati told reporters that now the cane price of different varieties of cane would be Rs 235 per quintal, Rs 240 and Rs 250 respectively. She said, the decision will benefit more than 40 lakh cane farmers in the state.In the last crushing season, the government had fixed theSAP between Rs 205 per quintal and Rs 210 per quintal. Mayawati said that sugar mills have also been directed to start crushing within next three days at all cost.