GUWAHATI, Feb 25 - The Kampur Nagaon Samabay Chenikal Surakshya Samiti today alleged that the State Cooperation Department has been hatching a plot to sell out the Nagaon Cooperative Sugar Mill, despite a note from the Chief Minister to lease out the sugar mill.
The Chief Minister on November 19, 2015 asked the Department to lease out the sugar mill to a suitable party for the sake of reviving it. The sugar mill, which is the largest of the sugar mills of the North East region, was set up in 1987 at Kampur. Its closure was declared on September 1, 2010. Later, in 2015, an indigenous firm Jest Green Energy came forward to revive the sugar mill following a public meeting of the sugarcane farmers of the four districts of Nagaon, Morigaon, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.
The Cooperation Department has now stated that as the sugar mill has a liability of Rs 22,64,54,173, including Rs 10,38,46,770 against the salary of its employees, there is no way out but to sell it out.
However, M/S Jest Green Energy on December 29, 2015 told in black and white the Secretary of the Cooperation Department that it would bear the liability of the sugar mill and enhance its capacity to 2,500 tonnes against the existing 1,250 tonnes. Besides, the firm said that it would enable the sugar mill to produce 45,000 litres of ethanol, 25 tonne carbon-dioxide in a day, and 17.5 MW electricity.
The Surakshya Samiti has demanded immediate steps to sign a lease agreement with the Jest Green Energy for the purpose of reviving the sugar mill.
