Sugar factory on cooperative running loss-Minister

Bhubaneswar, Nov 21 (UNI) Orissa Cooperation Minister Surama Padhi today told the state assembly that out of the three sugar factories run by cooperative society, the Bijayananda Cooperative Sugar factory in Bolangir was running on loss.

Replying to a question of Mr Pratap Chandra Sarangi(BJP), the minister said the company incurred a loss of Rs 26.52 lakh during 2005-06 and Rs 26.35 lakh during the previous year.

She said Baragarha Cooperative Sugar factory was alone declared sick in the past, but it revived after the government provided interest-free loans to it. The Baragarha sugar factory made a profit of Rs 49.90 lakh in 2005-06 and Rs 137.77 lakh in 2004-05.

The Aska Cooperative Sugar factory had been making profit since 2002-03 - 2005-06. The factory, she said, made profit of Rs 122.72 lakh in 2002-03, Rs 209.72 lakh in 2003-04, Rs 288.12 lakh in 2004-05 and Rs 329.11 lakh in 2005-06.

Replying to a question of Mr L B Mohpatra (Cong) the minister said the government had sold the Nayagarha Cooperative sugar factory and Baramba Cooperative sugar factory to private companies in 2004 and 2005 respecively.

While the Nayagarh factory was sold to M/S Nayagarha Sugar Complex Ltd for Rs 522 lakh the Badamba factory was sold to M/S Balaji Sugars&Allied Industries for Rs 828.50 lakh.

So far, the government had received Rs142.20 lakh from the Nayagarh Sugar Complex Ltd and Rs 51.70 lakh from the Balaji Sugars and&Allied industries.

The Minister said efforts were on to run the Badamba Sugar factory this year.

UNI