Cooperation Minister SN Patro has stated that no farmers’ dues and Government loans are outstanding against the Bijayananda Cooperative Sugar Mills ltd (BCSMl) in Bolangir for repayment.
On a question by BJP member KV Singh Deo over whether the BCSMl will be restarted and the current status and steps taken by the Government to pay the dues of the farmers and repay the loan, in the Assembly on Wednesday, Patro stated that the Government has not taken over the factory and the crushing operation of the BCSMl Bolangir was carried out through Bargarh Cooperative Sugar Mills ltd during the season 2013-14. After 2013-14 crushing season, operation of the BCSMl was stopped due to non-availability of adequate sugarcane in its area of operation and losses.
Patro further informed that during the year 2014-15, available sugarcane of Bolangir district was transported to Bargarh Cooperative Sugar Mills ltd at Bargarh for crushing and cane growers of Bolangir district were also provided transport subsidy amounting to Rs 32.15 in shape Government assistance and cane price dues were paid by Baragarh Cooperative Sugar Mills ltd in full.
However, other stakeholders’ dues like Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) of Rs 5.0 crore and Odisha State Cooperative Bank’s Rs 52.23 crore, Indian Overseas Bank’s Rs 2.5 crore, material suppliers’ Rs 2.0 crore and employees’ dues of Rs 1.8 crore are outstanding against the BCSMl, which will be settled at the time of divestment.The Minister further said that the process of divestment of BCSMl has already been initiated.