Patna: Bihar has stepped up efforts to expand its sugar industry, with the state government setting a target to establish new sugar mills in Nawada, Motipur and Sasamusa in Gopalganj by March 2027.
The decisions were taken at a high-level committee meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, where officials reviewed ongoing work and discussed measures to attract investment and strengthen the sugarcane sector.
New Mills Get Priority
Sugarcane Industries Department Secretary Dharmendra Singh presented the latest status of actions taken on directions issued during earlier meetings.
The meeting also decided to hold a Chief Secretary-level discussion with HPCL Biofuels Limited regarding proposed projects at the Lauria and Sugauli sugar mills.
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Focus on Sakri and Raiyam
The government is also pushing for sugar mill projects at Sakri in Madhubani and Raiyam in Darbhanga.
A proposal will be presented before the Union Cooperation Minister in New Delhi in coordination with Indian Potash Limited, the Sugarcane Industries Department and the Cooperation Department. The proposal will also be placed before the Bihar Chief Minister and Union Home Minister.
The committee further directed consultation with the Advocate General regarding the Bihar Sugar Undertakings (Acquisition) (Amendment) Bill, linked to land transfer for the two projects.
More Land to Be Identified
Land availability remains a key focus for future sugar mill projects. The District Magistrates of Motihari, Saran and Bhagalpur will be approached regarding available land.
In Begusarai and Purnia, suitable land will be identified on priority in coordination with the Industries Department. Technical evaluation of proposed land at Chakia in East Champaran and Warisaliganj in Nawada will also be undertaken through the National Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation Limited in New Delhi.
Motipur, Sasamusa Projects Move Ahead
For the Motipur Sugar Mill in Muzaffarpur, the Sugarcane Industries Department has been directed to transfer funds received from the Finance Department to Indian Potash Limited as per rules to facilitate recovery of the mill’s land.
For the Sasamusa Sugar Mill, officials will coordinate with the investor and take further action following the court’s order. The government has also directed completion of the Hathua Raj land transfer process.
Policy Changes to Attract Investment
The committee also called for improvements in the guidelines of the Bihar Sugarcane Industry Investment Promotion Policy-2026, particularly provisions related to land availability and project evaluation.
It also emphasised a system of committed approval for projects. Vardhan CBG Managing Director Amit Kumar Singh suggested giving Bihar-based investors an additional five marks during project evaluation to encourage local investment.
Waterlogging and Nilgai Issues
The government is also linking sugarcane industry growth with agricultural challenges. The Water Resources Department has been asked to prepare a DPR for a large-scale, permanent solution to waterlogging in sugarcane-producing districts.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department will prepare a technology-based proposal to address the nilgai problem in Bihar and submit it to the Central Government.
The measures collectively aim to expand sugar processing capacity, improve land availability, attract investment and address challenges faced by sugarcane-producing areas, supporting the broader development of Bihar’s sugar industry.
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