Closed sugar mills to be handed to private sector

Patna, Aug 11: The state governmment has decided to hand over four out of 15 closed sugar mills of Bihar to the private sector for their revival.

Official sources said here today that the private companies showing keen interest in investment in the moribund sugar mills included the HPCL, Reliance India Limited (RIL) and Rollcon Project Private Limited (RPPL).

The sick sugar mills under public sector situated at Lauria, Sugauli, Motipur and Lohat would be trasnferred to the private sector for which the formailities were near completion.

The sources further said the Lauria sugar mill, along with its distillery and Sugauli mill, would be given to the HPCL, the Motipur mill would be handed over to the RIL and RPPL had shown interest in Lohat unit.

These companies had also shown interest setting up ethanol-producing units and requested the state government for taking initiatives to acquire land and also urged to solve the related problems for installation of ethanol-producing units.

Meanwhile, as per the new cane control order of the Centre, opening of independent ethanol production units has been prohibited and it can be produced only with the units producing sugar.

The sources further said the processing of the tenders for revival of the four closed sugar mills had been completed.

Besides, the government has also decided to set up new sugar mills with private investment.

UNI