Sasamusa Sugar Mill Crisis Echoes In Bihar Assembly As MLA Demands Halt To Scrap Auction The decision to auction the closed Sasamusa Sugar Mill for scrap faced strong opposition in the Bihar Assembly. JD(U) MLA Manjit Singh demanded the factory's revival, citing a new investor ready to clear outstanding bank dues. The prolonged closure of the Sasamusa Sugar Mill in Gopalganj has sparked heated debates during the monsoon session of the Bihar Assembly on Wednesday. JD(U) legislator Manjit Singh passionately raised the issue, urging the state government to halt the ongoing auction process that aims to dismantle the factory for scrap. He emphasized that reviving the facility is the only viable path to provide much needed relief to thousands of distressed farmers and unemployed factory workers who are awaiting massive unpaid dues. Mounting Financial Liabilities and Unpaid Dues The financial collapse of the sugar mill has left behind a massive trail of unpaid arrears. According to the figures presented in the legislative house, local sugarcane cultivators are owed approximately 43 crore rupees for their produce. In addition to the agrarian crisis, the factory workforce has been left unpaid, with employee dues mounting to 9 crore rupees. Furthermore, various banking institutions are entangled in a severe debt crisis, with outstanding loans amounting to around 68 crore rupees. This massive bank default has led to protracted legal battles which are currently pending before the judiciary. The sheer scale of these liabilities highlights the severe economic distress inflicted on the Gopalganj region by the prolonged shutdown of this industrial unit. Controversial Auction and New Revival Hopes Despite these immense pending liabilities, the process of auctioning the mill and breaking it down into scrap metal has already been initiated. This drastic move has triggered widespread anger and resentment among local residents and agricultural communities who depend on the factory for their livelihood. During the assembly proceedings, the JD(U) legislator firmly demanded that the government must abandon the scrap sale strategy. In a major revelation, he informed the house that a private investor has stepped forward with a concrete revival proposal. This potential backer has expressed readiness to clear the 68 crore rupees owed to the banks. Moreover, the investor aims to resume sugarcane crushing operations from the very current season. If the state administration proactively facilitates this proposal, it could directly benefit thousands of laborers and cultivators in the region. Government Response and Legal Hurdles Addressing the concerns raised in the assembly, Sugarcane Industries Minister Sanjay Kumar assured the lawmakers that the Bihar government is treating the matter with utmost seriousness. The minister clarified the legal complexities surrounding the case, noting that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Kolkata bench has officially mandated the auction of the bankrupt facility. However, the state administration is currently conducting a thorough examination of all available legal avenues. The objective is to stage a necessary intervention within the framework of the law to explore all possibilities of restarting the mill operations. Awaiting the Critical Tribunal Verdict The minister reiterated the government commitment to safeguarding the fundamental interests of both the farming community and the mill workers. Future strategies will be formulated by taking all stakeholders into confidence. The entire resolution process now hinges on the upcoming legal proceedings. The Kolkata bench of the National Company Law Tribunal is scheduled to hold its next crucial hearing on this matter on August 8. Until then, the eyes of the affected employees, debt burdened farmers, and the entire local populace remain firmly fixed on the government next moves and the impending judicial decision. What this means for you • In Bihar: This issue directly affects the livelihood of workers and farmers in the Gopalganj region, as restarting the mill could ensure the payment of their massive pending dues. • For Farmers: If the government intervenes to halt the scrap auction and approves the new investor, it will pave the way for sugarcane cultivators to recover their stuck 43 crore rupees. Questions & Answers 1. How much money does the Sasamusa Sugar Mill owe to the farmers? According to the information provided in the assembly, the Sasamusa Sugar Mill owes approximately 43 crore rupees to the local sugarcane farmers. 2. What is the total amount of pending dues for the sugar mill employees? The pending payment for the employees of the closed sugar mill amounts to approximately 9 crore rupees. 3. What order did the NCLT Kolkata bench pass regarding the mill? The NCLT Kolkata bench has ordered the auction of the Sasamusa Sugar Mill to dismantle and sell it as scrap. 4. What was JD(U) MLA Manjit Singh's demand in the assembly? MLA Manjit Singh demanded that instead of selling the mill as scrap, the government should revive it with the help of a new investor who is ready to pay the 68 crore rupees bank debt. 5. When and where is the next hearing for this case? The next hearing for this case is scheduled to take place on August 8 at the NCLT Kolkata bench. https://trendkia.com/en/business/bihar-vidhanasabha-men-garamaya-sasamusa-chini-mila-ka-mudda-vidhayaka-ne-skraipa-nilami-rokane-ki-uthai-manga-9921 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.