Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday, 21 July announced in the Bihar Legislative Council that three long-shuttered sugar mills — located in Gopalganj, Sakri, and Raiyam — will resume operations in the near future. The state government, he said, is in the final stages of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a central government agency to facilitate the revival.

What the Revival Entails

Chief Minister Choudhary, responding to a short-notice question raised by MLC Shashi Yadav, described the move as a critical step toward strengthening Bihar's rural economy. According to him, restarting the mills is expected to generate employment in the region, improve market access for sugarcane farmers, boost local economic activity, and restore industrial infrastructure in the affected districts. Operations at all three mills will commence once the MoU is formally signed.

The announcement carries particular significance for sugarcane-growing communities in these districts, where the closure of the mills had cut off a primary source of income and left industrial assets idle for years. This is part of a broader pattern of Bihar's government attempting to reverse industrial stagnation in its rural heartland.

Nal-Jal Scheme Maintenance Under Scrutiny

The Council also took up the question of maintaining Bihar's Nal-Jal (Tap Water) Scheme. Members from both the ruling alliance and the opposition pressed for maintenance responsibility to be returned to ward members, arguing that locally elected representatives are better placed to identify and resolve on-ground problems swiftly.

Janata Dal (United) MLC Dinesh Prasad Singh backed the proposal, contending that local representatives can ensure faster maintenance turnaround and greater accountability. Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Sanjay Kumar Singh outlined the current maintenance structure in response. Chief Minister Choudhary assured the House that the government would seriously consider the proposal following a joint review meeting between the Panchayati Raj Department and the PHED.

Drug Abuse Debate Sparks Political Clash

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLC Sunil Kumar Singh raised a calling attention motion over what he described as rising substance abuse in Bihar, alleging that the use of narcotics including cannabis, opium, and heroin is on the rise and poses a serious social challenge to the state.

His remarks drew sharp objections from ruling alliance members. Art and Culture Minister Pramod Kumar and several other MLCs opposed his comments, particularly references to drug consumption near religious sites, triggering a heated exchange between treasury and opposition benches. The episode underscored the deepening political divide over law and order narratives ahead of future electoral cycles.

Government's Assurances

The session concluded with the government reiterating its commitment to both industrial revival and public welfare. Chief Minister Choudhary assured the House that all issues raised by members — from sugar mill operations to Nal-Jal maintenance and drug abuse — would be examined further by the relevant departments. All eyes are now on the MoU signing, which will set a concrete timeline for the mills' restart.