Green signal 3 new sugar factories in Karnataka

BANGALORE: Three new sugar factories in the private sector involving a total investment of Rs 154.58 crore in Karnataka were given approval by the H D Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-BJP regime.

The three new sugar factories are proposed to be set up in Bijapur, Gulbarga and Belgaum districts.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the state cabinet, education minister Basavaraj Horatti said the KPR Sugars Pvt Ltd with a cane crushing capacity of 2,500 tonnes a day would be set up in Alamelu village of Sindhagi taluk in Bijapur district at a cost Rs 49.70 crore, the Renuka Sugars Ltd with 5,000 tonnes crushing capacity per day and 15-mw cogeneration plant will be set up in Afzalpur in Gulbarga district at cost Rs 81.33 crore and the third unit by Lakshmanrao Jarkiholi Sugars Ltd with 2,500 tonnes crushing capacity a day plus 14-mw cogeneration unit will come up aa Gokak in Belgaum district at an investment of Rs 23.55 crore.

The cabinet cleared a proposal from the private sector Nirani Sugars Ltd at Mudhol in Bagalkot taluk for expansion of the daily crushing capacity from 2,500 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes and also lease out the Raibagh Sugars Ltd, which had closed down after incurring an accumulated loss of over Rs 150 crore. Successful bidders would be allowed to run the factory on a 30-year lease, the minister said.