Deogaon: Peeved at the alleged callousness of the government in reviving the Bijayananda Cooperative Sugar Mill at Sagarpalli under this block in Bolangir district, the farmers and locals Thursday decided to hold a massive congregation March 28.
This was revealed during a press meet convened by farmer leaders here Thursday. The leaders stated that the sugar mill was once perceived as the mainstay of the sugarcane faming in western Odisha districts.
However, the closure of the sugar mill led significant deceleration in the growth of the agrarian economy of the region that was catching up prior to 2010.
The closure of the sugar mill continued to hamper the farm incomes in Kalahandi, Bolangir, Nuapada, Boudh and Sonepur districts. Scores of farmers were getting bountiful returns by selling the sugarcane to the factory.
Notably, the sugar factory was commissioned in 1992 as Pony Sugar. However, it was closed in 2010 due to mismanagement and pending debt.
The sugar factory was revived again in 2010 and functional till 2014 with efforts of Jagneswar Babu, former president of the Odisha State Cooperative Bank.
However, the fate of the sugar factory plunged into uncertainty again in May 2014 following a failed midnight coup bid by a group of BJD leaders to grab the Chief Minister’s post. The shutter was down again.
Although the locals have been pressing for revival of the sugar factory during the last eight years, what they are getting is only assurance and that too during elections.
“The government has been misleading the people on its revival. If the government does not take any step for revival of the factory by mid-March this year, a massive farmers’ rally will be organised against the government. We will also organise ‘Odisha Bandh’ over the issue,” Rajesh Bagarti, president of the Paschima Odisha Seva Sangh said.
Activists of Adivasi Mahasangh, members of Odisha Krushi Bhittika Silpa Karyakhyama Andolan, Chinikala Karmachari Sangh and other outfits have supported this plan.
PNN