Patna: Health and Law Minister Mangal Pandey has stated that several sugar mills in North Bihar shut down one after another during the 20-year rule of the RJD-Congress government (1985-2005). He recalled that North Bihar was once known as the “Sugar Bowl” of the state. According to Pandey, the region once had 16 operational sugar mills, but seven of them were shut down during the tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, reported Jagran.
The closure of these mills had a significant impact, not only on employment but also on farmers, many of whom were forced to move away from cash crop farming. In West Champaran alone, there are six sugar mills located in Narkatiaganj, Lauria, Majholia, Chanpatia, Bagaha, and Ramnagar. The Chanpatia Sugar Mill ceased operations in 1994.
Similarly, the Lohat Sugar Mill in Madhubani shut down in 1996 during a period of lawlessness and has remained non-operational ever since. In Muzaffarpur, crushing at the Motipur Sugar Mill stopped in 1997. The sugar mill at Samastipur district headquarters has been locked since 1985, dating back to the Congress government’s tenure.
The worst-hit region during the Lalu-Rabri regime was Mithilanchal. The once-renowned Sakri and Raiyam sugar mills were also forced to shut down. Sakri Sugar Mill ceased operations in 1993, followed by Raiyam Sugar Mill in 1994. Pandey questioned the RJD, asking them to clarify under whose tenure these closures took place.
