Fulfilling its election commitments, the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar has decided to revive sugar mills across the state. Bihar Sugarcane Industries Minister Sanjay Paswan said on Friday that the process of reopening both defunct and existing mills has already begun.
On Thursday, presiding over the fifth meeting of the State Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC), Bihar chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit passed the order to restart two sugar mills — Raiyam in Darbhanga and Sakri in Madhubani, reported Hindustan Times.
The reopening of sugar mills was a key poll promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is currently undertaking his Samridhi Yatra across the state, has repeatedly stressed the need to revive industries to create employment opportunities for youth and strengthen Bihar’s economy.
Addressing the media in Motihari during a day-long visit to East Champaran to interact with farmers, Paswan said the state government aims to revive 25 sugar mills, including those that have remained closed for years.
“The proposal was approved in the very first cabinet meeting of the government. Subsequently, a high-level committee was formed under the chairmanship of the chief secretary, with the sugar industry department secretary as a member. The committee is actively working on the revival plan, and encouraging outcomes are expected soon,” the minister said, as per the news report.
He added that the initiative is intended to improve the financial prospects of farmers, ensure better prices for sugarcane growers, and generate employment for the state’s youth.
The revival of sugar mills in Bihar was first promised by Prime Minister Modi during the 2014 general election campaign. The issue later became a political flashpoint, with opposition parties such as the RJD and Congress criticising the government over the unfulfilled assurance. Expectations were renewed when Home Minister Amit Shah pledged the reopening of all closed sugar mills during his election rallies in Bihar.
According to the news report by Hindustan Times, at present, at least 12 sugar mills in the state remain defunct, while around nine are operational, mainly in districts such as West and East Champaran, Gopalganj, and Samastipur. The closed mills include Sakri Sugar Mill in Darbhanga (shut since 1997), Shyam Sugar Mill in Darbhanga (1994), Motipur Sugar Mill in Muzaffarpur (2011), Goraul Sugar Mill in Vaishali (1992), Warisaliganj Sugar Mill in Nawada (1993), Lohat Sugar Mill in Madhubani, Madhora Sugar Mill in Saran — a British-era mill established in 1904 — Chanpatia Sugar Mill in East Champaran, Siwan Sugar Mill, Samastipur Sugar Mill, and Chakia Sugar Mill in East Champaran.
Meanwhile, the Riga Sugar Mill in Sitamarhi, which had ceased operations in 2020, was successfully revived in 2024.
