Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, said on Monday that the government would order a feasibility study to decide on the revival of Brahmavar Cooperative Sugar Factory in the district.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Sorake said that a detailed study would have to be done before any decision was taken on the revival of the factory, which had shut down its operations for the last 11 years.
Many farmers also wanted the revival of the factory and their views too would be considered.
The views of the experts would be taken on the issue, he added.
The matter would also be discussed with Minister for Cooperatives and Sugar H.S. Mahadeva Prasad.
The Siddaramaiah government had released Rs. 12 crore in the first phase, which was used for clearing the salaries of the factory workers, the dues of the sugarcane growers, he said.
Asked what purpose the release of the Varahi water in the canals would solve if the factory was not revived, Mr. Sorake said that conducting the study did not mean that it was curtains for the factory.
Since the factory had been closed for a long time and it would require lot of resources to reopen it.
“Besides, the options of ethanol production and co-generation too will have to be explored. A clear opinion can be given only after a feasibility study,” he said.
Land allocated
To a query, Mr. Sorake said that already 30 acres of land had been allotted for the Advanced Science Research Centre (ASRC) of Mangalore University in Belapu village of the district.
An industrial area for small industries would be developed in a separate 68 acres of land adjacent to the land given for the Advanced Science Research Centre in Belapu.
“There is additional 50 acres of land available in Belapu. If the Mangalore University wants any additional land for ASRC, we can give it to it,” he said.
Mr. Sorake said that he had asked Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar to issue a stern directive to the Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) located at Yellur-Santhur village not to discharge effluents, which had contaminated wells in the nearby villages.
Inauguration
Mr. Sorake said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the first phase of Varahi Irrigation Project at Siddapura on April 20.
The river water would reach upto the 49th kilometre.
The land acquisition for the second phase of the project was expected to be completed by the end of April.
Mr. Siddaramaiah wwill then participate in a felicitation function that has been organised by fisherwomen at Shankaranarayana village and will later reach Belapu, where he would inaugurate the ASRC, he said.
The factory had shut down operations due to mounting losses 11 years ago
The government had released funds to pay salaries of workers, clear dues of growers
