E-Paper
Cooperatives no to Barlai Sugar plant revival
FAILING TO attract the cooperative institutions, the management of Malwa Sahkari Shakkar Karkhana Maryadit (MSSKM) at Barlai, three years after its closure, have decided to invite expression of interest from country?s leading private sector companies for its revival.
FAILING TO attract the cooperative institutions, the management of Malwa Sahkari Shakkar Karkhana Maryadit (MSSKM) at Barlai, three years after its closure, have decided to invite expression of interest from country’s leading private sector companies for its revival.
The factory management has prepared an assessment report of sugar factory’s assets, liabilities and take-over conditions for the bidder.
Besides, an action plan worth Rs 4 crore has been sent to the State government for approval, where the government has been asked to pay the sum to clear establishment’s dues and put it back on working track.
A month back, State cabinet sub committee had recommended three steps for its revival. This included- to invite cooperative organisations to take it over for revival while second was to give it to private sector and third was that government would take the decision in case the first two options failed.
Following recommendations, letters inviting expression of interest were sent to about 20 cooperative bodies but none showed interest in its resurgence. As a result, the Cooperative Department is exploring second option. “We will be placing advertisement to invite private companies soon,” MSSKM Managing Director and Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Ambrish Vaidya said.
The cooperative unit was set up in November 1980 to benefit sugarcane producers of eight tehsils of Indore, Dewas and Ujjain districts with a capacity to process 1,250 metric tonne of sugarcane everyday. Situated 25 km north of Indore, Barlai village in Sanver tehsil was chosen to set up the factory, as it is located on A B Road and Indore – Dewas broad gauge line.
Launched with sum of Rs 675 lakh, its total debt at present stands at Rs 508.06 lakh. A sugarcane development plan worth Rs 3 crore was sent through National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories to New Delhi for the unit.
The screening committee had approved the project but standing committee withheld it after state government failed to provide guarantee for the project. The Rs 3-crore plan included provision for setting up rearing seed nursery (Rs 30 lakh), incentive cane grower (Rs 1.75 crore) and drip irrigation (Rs 10 lakh).
Apart from political wrangle and mismanagement, inadequate rains since 2001 are among the prominent reasons for its closure. State government ordered its closure in 2002-03.
The cooperative unit was set up in November 1980 to benefit sugarcane producers of eight tehsils of Indore, Dewas and Ujjain districts with a capacity to process 1,250 metric tonne of sugarcane everyday.
