Sitamarhi: There is fresh hope for a revival of the Riga sugar mill in the Sitamarhi district, which has remained closed for the past few years. Following few unsuccessful auction attempts, a team from Bengaluru visited the mill recently, exuding a interest in the acquisition of the same, reports Nav Bharat Times.
The team, which is one of the strongest contenders to obtain the mill using auction, carried out a detailed inspection of the Riga sugar mill two days ago. The team engaged in discussions with local staff and their technical experts. They also examined private lands surrounding the mill that could be purchased if needed, along with the fertilizer unit, co-generation facilities, employee quarters, and large bungalows on the premises.
Additionally, the team visited fields in nearby villages, including Gopalpur Farm, Mahadev Farm, Mubarakpur, Rasulpur, Harpur, and Dumri, where sugarcane is cultivated. They interacted with local sugarcane farmers to understand the potential increase in sugarcane farming if the mill were to reopen.
During the visit, the team met with Nagendra Prasad Singh, President of the “Reopen Riga Sugar Mill” campaign and Secretary General of the Sugarcane Growers’ Association.
Singh also assured the team that they would receive support at the government level, including from MPs, MLAs, the Bihar state government, and the Chief Minister, to resolve any issues.
The fourth auction of the Riga sugar mill is scheduled for September 2, 2024, with the reserve price reduced to ₹86.50 crores.
