In a significant move to boost the state's industrial and agricultural sectors, the Bihar government has initiated the process of reviving two long-closed sugar mills. The state's Cooperative Minister, Pramod Kumar, announced on Tuesday that the mills located in Sakri (Madhubani) and Raiyam (Darbhanga) will be brought back to operational life under the management of the cooperative department.
Revival Plan Under Saat Nischay-3 Programme
This decision forms a crucial part of the Bihar government's ambitious "Saat Nischay-3" programme. The broader vision, as outlined by the minister during a press conference at Vikas Bhavan in Patna, involves the revival of nine old, closed sugar mills and the establishment of 25 new sugar mills across the state. The revival of the Sakri and Raiyam units marks the first concrete step in this large-scale plan.
"We have just received a proposal to run two sugar mills namely—Sakri in Madhubani and Raiyam in Darbhanga. The cooperative department will proceed to make a mill-wise plan, soon after the two sugar mills are formally transferred to us," stated Minister Pramod Kumar. He was accompanied by key officials including Cooperative Secretary Dharmendra Singh and Additional Secretary Abhay Kumar Singh.
Formal Transfer and Detailed Planning Ahead
The officials emphasized that detailed operational planning will commence only after the formal handover of the mills. Cooperative Secretary Dharmendra Singh clarified, "As and when the two sugar mills will be transferred to the cooperative department, only then we will proceed to make a mill-wise plan." The department is currently in close coordination with the sugar cane industries department to facilitate this transfer.
The directive to involve the cooperative department came from a high-level committee headed by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit. This committee, formed in December 2025, is overseeing the entire process of reviving the closed mills and setting up new ones, following the approval of the plan by the NDA government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in November 2025.
Current Status of Sugar Mills in Bihar
The revival effort addresses a pressing issue in Bihar's industrial landscape. As of 2025, there are 18 closed sugar mills in the state, with 15 of these originally operating under the Bihar State Sugar Corporation. The nine mills identified for revival include seven in the public sector: Raiyam (Darbhanga), Sakri (Madhubani), Samastipur, Motipur (Muzaffarpur), Marhaura (Saran), Barachakia (East Champaran), and Chanpatia (West Champaran). The remaining two—Motihari and Sasamusa (Gopalganj)—are in the private sector.
The move to reopen the Sakri and Raiyam mills is expected to have a multiplier effect. It promises to rejuvenate the local agrarian economy by ensuring a reliable market for sugarcane farmers, create direct and indirect employment opportunities, and reduce the state's dependence on sugar from other regions. This initiative under Saat Nischay-3 signifies a strong push by the Bihar government to reactivate core industries and foster sustainable economic growth in the state's rural heartland.
