Deogaon: The Odisha government has recently announced that it will invest Rs 92.60 crore for the revival of the Bijayananda Cooperative sugar mill at Sagarpali under Gaibahal panchayat of this block in Bolangir district. During the announcement, the government said that the mill will be made operational through the PPP mode. However, as the announcement came with the state Assembly elections less than a year away, it has been taken with a pinch of salt.
Many, including politicians have expressed their doubts over the revival of the sugar mill on various social media platforms. The district cooperative sugar mill committee however, had earlier submitted a proposal to the state government stating that a fund of Rs 120 crore is required to keep the mill operational for three years. The state government had then asked senior officials of the Cooperative department and a high level technical committee to submit a report on revival of the sugar mill.
However, it was not done. Opposition leaders pointed out that the Odisha government remembers about the sugar mill when elections come knocking. They said that before the 2019 Assembly elections, the government had announced revival of the sugar mill if the BJD candidate emerged victorious.
However, once the results were declared, revival plans took a backseat. Sugarcane farmers have once again expressed their apprehensions about the latest revival announcement. Bolangir MLA Narasingha Mishra, said that he had raised the issue in the Odisha Assembly a number of times. Mishra termed the recent announcement as hoax. Mishra pointed out that the Odisha government had thrice floated tenders for the revival of the sugar mill. However, as there were no bidders, the government backed out on its plans. He asserted that the government is not keen to revive the mill. Dayananda Khamari, chairperson, panchayat samiti, Deogaon block, said that if the mill is made operational it will greatly help sugarcane farmers and local residents as it is the only agro-based factory in the region.
Subal Charan Rana, advisor, Employees Association of Deogaon said that the closure of the mill has rendered over 300 persons jobless. The reopening of the sugar mill will help many in earning their livelihood again,” Rana added
