Patna: The government does not have plans yet to establish sugar mills but is ready to provide required assistance, as per legal provisions, if any investor comes up with a proposal for mills in East Champaran.

The district is among the traditional sugarcane-growing areas in Bihar. The two important mills at Motihari and Chakia are now closed, jeopardising the livelihood of many farmers.

MLC Satish Kumar raised the issue of defunct sugar mills in East Champaran, saying sugarcane was a cash crop through which the farmers in the area would fulfil medical treatment, construction of houses, education and marriage of their children among other responsibilities.

"Around 80 per cent farmers in East Champaran cultivated sugarcane. However, after the two mills closed, they have to take their produce to other districts where they are cheated by operators of weighing bridges at 'sugarcane purchase centres'," Satish said through a call attention. He also demanded the government to establish two state-of-the-art sugar mills to bring back the golden days of East Champaran's cane farmers.

Minority welfare minister Khurshid, alias Firoj Ahmad, said: "The government has no plans to establish any sugar mill... However, keeping in view interests of cane growers and labourers, the government has decided to encourage sugar mills or sugarcane-based industries in private, public or cooperative sectors. A promotion package was announced in 2006, which was improved further and made more attractive in 2014."

He added that the government had not received proposal for sugar mills in Motihari or Chakia but would provide assistance to investors if "any such proposal comes".