Employees’ union seeks revival of defunct Bargarh Cooperative Sugar Mill

The demand for revival of the defunct Bargarh Cooperative Sugar Mill has gained fresh momentum with the employees’ union submitting a memorandum to Cooperation and Handlooms Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta, seeking establishment of a modern mill integrated with a dual-feed ethanol plant.

On April 29, a delegation of the Bargarh Cooperative Sugar Mill Employees’ Union, led by its secretary Subrata Sahu, met the minister during his visit to the district. In its memorandum, the union cited Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s speech during his Odisha visit in March this year, in which he had announced plans to revive all closed sugar mills in the state.

The union highlighted that sugarcane, once the district’s primary cash crop, has nearly disappeared following the closure of the mill. The factory set up on 104 acres of land at Tora has remained closed since April 2017 due to mismanagement and lack of funds for maintenance.

The employees further said the Indian Potash Limited had already submitted an expression of interest (EoI) on November 16, 2022 for revival and operation of the Bargarh mill. The proposal was subsequently forwarded to the State Cooperation department by the district administration.

Despite repeated appeals from employees, the mill was declared under liquidation by authorities on October 16, 2023, leading to termination of all staff. Many employees, who lost their jobs, are yet to receive their full dues and are currently in a distressing financial condition.