Bihar: Government to revive nine closed sugar mills, setup 25 fresh units

Patna: Bihar government is all set to revive closed sugar mills in the state alongside setting up over two dozen new units.

According to details, the state’s NDA government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has given nod to revival of all the 9 closed sugar mill units in the state.

The newly formed government in its first cabinet meeting has accorded nod to revive sugar mill units of Samastipur along Sakri and Raiyaam units of Darbhanga.

The other sugar mill units which are set to be revived includes of Marhaura in Saran, Motipur of Muzaffarpur and Barachakia and Chanpatia of East Champaran and West Champaran respectively. Two private sugar mill units at Motihari and Sasamusa of Gopalganj will also be re-opened by the government.

Among the aforesaid sugar mill units, Raiyam and Sakri units were closed in 1993 and 1996 respectively with Marhaura unit closing its operation in 1997. The Barachakia and Chanpatia units were closed in the year 1994.

The government now however has constituted a high level committee under chief secretary to remove the obstacles in re-opening of these sugar mill units. As per details, the land acquisition process for Raiyam and Sakri units has already been completed.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah had vowed to revive all the closed sugar mill units in the state during campaign for the recently concluded state assembly polls where the NDA made a grand return to power, securing 202 out of the 243 assembly seats it contested.

Other than the revival of old sugar mill units, the government has also set plans in motion to setup fresh sugar mill units in the state. According to details, the state government will set up a total of 25 fresh sugar mill units in the state to boost sugar production.

As of now the state has 10 functional sugar mill units in Bagaha, Harinagar, Narkatiaganj, Sidhwalia, Sagauli, Lauriya, Gopalganj, Hasanpur, and Manjhauliya with a total crushing capacity of 55,500 TCD and total sugar production of 68.77 quintals.