Karnataka receives proposals for 13 new sugar mills in Belagavi district
Belagavi received 13 of Karnataka’s 42 proposals for new sugar mills, potentially strengthening its leadership with 29 existing mills. The expansion is driven by abundant sugarcane, irrigation, ethanol opportunities and infrastructure, but experts warn of cane competition, water stress and environmental sustainability concerns.
Belagavi: Belagavi district could further strengthen its position as Karnataka’s leading sugar-producing region, with 13 of the 42 proposals for new sugar mills submitted to the state government coming from the district.
Karnataka currently has 81 operational sugar mills, of which 29 are located in Belagavi, the highest for any district in the state.
The proposed expansion is driven by abundant sugarcane production, extensive irrigation facilities in the Krishna basin, a well-established cooperative and private sugar industry, and growing opportunities in ethanol production and cogeneration-based power generation.
Industry observers said Belagavi’s proximity to Maharashtra, strong transport infrastructure, and access to additional sugarcane from neighbouring areas have made it an attractive destination for new sugar investments.
The district also has a well-developed ecosystem for sugar processing, including distilleries, ethanol production facilities, skilled manpower and industrial infrastructure, reducing the cost of setting up new projects.
The proposed projects include sugar mills planned at Ramdurg, Bailhongal, Kittur, Savadatti, Belagavi, Gokak, Athani, Raibag and Khanapur by private companies.
If approved and implemented, the projects are expected to boost investment in ethanol production, power generation through cogeneration, transportation, machinery and other allied industries, while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
The expansion is also expected to provide a larger market for sugarcane growers in the region by increasing crushing capacity.
However, experts cautioned that the addition of several new sugar mills could intensify competition for sugarcane, increase pressure on water resources and raise environmental concerns, requiring careful planning to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.
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Source : ChiniMandi
