IPL Brings Sugar Back to Odisha: Two Mills Set for Revival

The Odisha government has granted in-principle approval to India Potash Ltd (IPL) for the revival of two long-inactive cooperative sugar mills — Bijayananda Cooperative Sugar Mills in Balangir and Badamba Cooperative Sugar Industries in Cuttack. Both units have been non-operational for over a decade.

As the country’s largest importer and distributor of potash, IPL is expected to leverage its expertise in integrated agri-infrastructure for the revival. The company has been asked to submit a detailed project report (DPR) to move the process forward. IPL has requested 40–50 acres of land per unit to establish modern, integrated facilities encompassing sugar production and allied activities.

To ensure operational viability, IPL has proposed sugarcane cultivation across 15,000 hectares, including a minimum of 6,000 hectares for the Balangir unit alone. The state government is preparing a plan to expand sugarcane farming starting next financial year to support this initiative.

Additionally, the Cooperation Department has asked IPL to provide the revival roadmap it implemented for cooperative sugar units in Gujarat, to serve as a reference framework for the Odisha project.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.