Patna: Investors from Tamil Nadu have shown interest in the revival of the Marhaura sugar mill located in Saran district and on Sunday visited and inspected the mill, which has been closed for years, The Times of India reported.
The investors reviewed the available facilities on the premises. They also interacted with local sugarcane farmers and discussed the issues they face, a state government official said.
The visit is part of the state government’s plan under the Saat Nischay-3 programme, which aims to restart closed sugar mills and set up 25 new sugar factories in the state.
According to officials, the inspection team included S N Jayamurugan, chairman and managing director of SNJ Group of Companies, vice-chairman Krishna, and the group’s auditor Bimalendra Mishra. They visited the Marhaura mill along with officials from the state sugarcane industry department to review its present condition.
During the visit, the delegation met farmers from nearby villages and held discussions on sugarcane cultivation and related issues. They also visited fields to observe the condition of standing sugarcane crops in the area.
State Assistant Cane Commissioner Vedavrat Kumar and Cane Officer Komar Kanan were also present during the inspection.
The Marhaura sugar mill, originally established as Cawnpore Sugar Works Ltd, was set up in 1904 in Saran district. It was the first sugar mill in Bihar and among the oldest in India.
The factory operated for nearly a century before shutting down during the 1997–98 season due to management problems, labour disputes, and a lack of modernisation.
At its peak, Marhaura had developed into a major industrial centre with four units operating in the area — the sugar mill, Morton Confectionery, Saran Distillery, and Saran Engineering Works.
The closure of the mill affected more than 20,000 farming families and about 1,500 factory workers, leading to large-scale unemployment and migration from the region.
