Indian Potash to revive Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill in Odisha

Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill in Odisha, which has remained shut for more than 15 years, is set to be revived, bringing renewed hope to thousands of farmers in the region. Indian Potash Limited (IPL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha for the modernisation & expansion of Badamba Sugar Mill with an estimated investment to Rs 360 crore.

The MoU was signed by Dr PS Gahlaut, Managing Director, Indian Potash Limited, and Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Cooperation, Government of Odisha in the august presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. The occasion was graced by the presence of Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan; Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, Pravati Parida; Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and MP Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi.

As per the MoU, the Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill is expected to commence operation within one year and will have a capacity of 3,500 TCD (tonnes cane per day). It will also consist of a 16 MW co-generation power plant, a 10-tonne-per-day Bio-CNG plant, and a state-of-the-art cold storage facility.

The project is expected to directly benefit around 10,000 farmers of the Badamba Block of Cuttack district by reviving sugarcane cultivation in the State, enhancing farmer income and generating employment in the region.

Based on the successful turnaround of 3 sick sugar mills in Gujarat, IPL now under the guidance of the Union Cooperation Ministry took up the project for the revival of Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill. It roped in National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited for a detailed technical and financial feasibility study.

As part of the MoU, the Odisha Government will provide 112 acres of land on a long-term lease basis to IPL for the establishment of the mill and associated infrastructure. The revival of the sugar mill is aimed at improving the income of farmers by promoting sugarcane cultivation, which is increasingly being recognised as an energy crop due to its potential for producing ethanol, power, and bio-fuels. The project is expected to stimulate rural economic activity, generate employment, and encourage farmers in the region to take up sugarcane cultivation once again.

In recent years, IPL has played an important role in the revival of three sick sugar mills in the State of Gujarat, successfully restoring their operations through modernisation and improved management practices. The revival of the Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill will follow a similar approach, combining technological modernisation with cooperative participation to ensure long-term sustainability.