By Our Correspondent in Bhubaneswar, February 18, 2015 :

The closure of Baramba Sugar Mill for long due to fraudulent practices of its owner, Balaji Sugars Limited has evoked on Wednesday strong protests in Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Members cutting across party lines grilled the cooperation minister on the issue and wanted complete assurance from him to restart the unit.

The House briefly debated over the issue during the question hour. Ruling BJD leader Ranendra Pratap Swain said the closure of the unit had hit hard hundreds of local farmers.

“Hundreds of sugarcane farmers in Cuttack district are dependent on Barama Sugar Mill. However, the closure of this unit due to mismanagement has rendered them jobless. This is high time the government thought over the issue seriously and took some practical steps to revive it,” Mr Swain said.

Addressing to the concerns of the members, cooperation minister Dr Damodar Rout said the Baramba Sugar Mill matter was under sub-judice and the government will take call on the fate of the plant once the matter is disposed off.

“In 2005, the state government had entered into a sale-purchase agreement with the Balaji Sugars Limited for handing over the Baramba Sugar Mill at Rs 5 crore. As per the agreement, the company agreed to pay Rs one crore in four equal installments in the first year and the rest in next 15 years. However, the company backed out of its commitment for which the government knocked the door of the high court. The matter subsequently went to the Supreme Court which again referred the case to the HC for hearing,” the minister said.

He added that once the HC gave its verdict on the case, the state government will take appropriate step on the reopening of the sugar mill.