Indian Potash, Odisha Govt Sign MoU For Rs 360 Cr Badamba Sugar Mill Revival Project

Bhubaneswar, Mar 10 (KNN) Indian Potash Limited (IPL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha to revive and modernise the long-shut Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill in Cuttack district, with an estimated investment of Rs 360 crore.

The mill, located in Badamba, has remained closed for over 15 years. 

The agreement was signed by Dr. P. S. Gahlaut, Managing Director, IPL, and Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the state’s Cooperation Department, in the presence of Amit Shah, Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, on March 6, 2026.

Gahlaut said, “By restoring this mill, we aim to create sustainable opportunities for farmers, encourage sugarcane cultivation, generate employment, and contribute to the economic development of the region. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Odisha and the local farming community to make this project a success.”

Modernisation and Capacity

Under the agreement, the mill is expected to resume operations within a year with a crushing capacity of 3,500 tonnes of cane per day (TCD). The project will also include a 16 MW co-generation power plant, a 10-tonne-per-day Bio-CNG plant, and a modern cold storage facility.

The Government of Odisha will provide 112 acres of land on long-term lease for the project.

Boost for Farmers and Rural Economy

The revival is expected to benefit around 10,000 farmers in Badamba block, reviving sugarcane cultivation, increasing farmer incomes and generating employment in the region.

IPL took up the project after successfully reviving three sick sugar mills in Gujarat. For the Badamba project, it engaged the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited to conduct technical and financial feasibility studies.

Sugarcane cultivation is also being promoted as an energy crop, with potential for producing ethanol, power and bio-fuels, which could strengthen the rural economy.

(KNN Bureau)