Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Monday asked senior state officials to prepare and implement a comprehensive action plan for reviving nine closed sugar mills and establishing 25 new units across Bihar, placing farmer welfare, investment and employment generation at the centre of the proposed expansion.Chairing a review meeting of the sugar cane industry department at Sankalp Sabhagar in Lok Sevak Awas, Samrat said Bihar possesses immense potential for the growth of sugar cane-based industries. He asked officials to expedite efforts to restore industrial activity in areas where sugar mills have remained shut, specifically naming Raiyam, Sakri, Sasamusa, Marhaura, Motipur, Samastipur, Chakia, Chanpatia and Motihari. The revival of these units, he said, would generate local employment opportunities while ensuring direct benefits for sugarcane farmers.The CM also called for a dedicated plan to develop the Champaran region into one of the country’s leading sugar cane-producing belts. He asked officials to take all necessary steps to increase sugar cane production, improve productivity and secure better market access for growers.Samrat said the proposed Bihar Sugar cane Industry Promotion Policy-2026 should focus on attracting maximum investment, encouraging entrepreneurs and modernising the sugar industry. He said the govt remained committed to farmers’ prosperity, industrial growth and strengthening the rural economy, and would extend all necessary support for the overall development of the sugarcane sector.Sugar cane industry department secretary Dharmendra Singh made a detailed presentation on departmental schemes, the current status of sugar mills, sugar cane production trends and the proposed promotion policy. He also briefed the meeting on the road map for reopening the nine closed mills and setting up 25 new sugar mills.Sugar cane industry minister Sanjay Kumar, principal secretary to the CM Deepak Kumar, chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit, development commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, secretaries to the CM Lokesh Kumar Singh and Sanjay Kumar Singh, energy secretary Ajay Yadav, industries secretary Kundan Kumar and other senior officials attended the meeting.Bihar has a long and significant history in India’s sugar industry. In the 1940s, the state had more than 33 operational sugar mills and contributed nearly 40% of the country’s sugar production. However, over subsequent decades, outdated machinery, low cane recovery rates and mounting financial losses triggered widespread de-industrialisation, forcing most public and private mills to shut down by the late 1990s. Bihar’s share in national sugar production has since declined to around 3-4% with only nine operational mills now concentrated mainly in the Champaran, Gopalganj and Samastipur regions.
