Bhubaneswar: Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit on Thursday met Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah to invite him to inaugurate the bio-ethanol plant of BPCL in Bargarh district.
During the meeting in New Delhi, the MP submitted a letter seeking the Centre’s intervention for the revival of the defunct Bargarh Cooperative Sugar Mill.
According to Purohit, Shah acknowledged the importance of reviving the Bargarh sugar mill and assured him that necessary steps would be taken in this regard.
The Bargarh Cooperative Sugar Mill is located at Tora on 104 acres of land. The sugar mill has remained closed since April 2017 due to management irregularities and financial problems. Although Indian Potash Limited had expressed interest in reviving the unit on November 16, 2022, the process was formally closed on October 16, 2023.
The prolonged closure has affected the livelihoods of hundreds of employees and sugarcane farmers. Sugarcane cultivation in the region has also almost come to a halt, causing economic hardship to farming families, the MP said.
In his letter, Purohit urged Shah to direct the Union Cooperation Ministry to take necessary steps to hand over the 104-acre facility to Indian Potash Limited or another capable cooperative organisation for setting up a modern and integrated sugar mill.
The MP stressed that the revival of the sugar mill, along with the commissioning of the bio-ethanol plant, could give fresh momentum to Bargarh’s agriculture-based economy. He said both projects were crucial for increasing farmers’ income, accelerating industrial development and creating employment opportunities for the youth in the region.
Purohit also highlighted the significance of BPCL’s second-generation integrated bio-ethanol plant established in Bargarh at an investment of around Rs 1,775 crore. The first-of-its-kind facility in eastern India has a production capacity of 200 kilolitres of fuel per day under the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana.
The plant will use paddy straw and other agricultural residues as raw materials. The project will increase farmers’ income by providing an additional market for agricultural waste while promoting environmental protection, generating employment and strengthening the rural economy.
Considering its importance, Purohit requested Shah to visit Bargarh and inaugurate the facility.
The MP also invited the Union Minister to visit the historic Gandhamardan Hills and the Sri Sri Nrusinghanath Temple. He briefed Shah on the historical, religious and environmental significance of the Gandhamardan mountain range.
During the meeting, Purohit presented Shah with a jacket made from Sambalpuri fabric, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of western Odisha and the craftsmanship of local weavers.