PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Jan 24: Soon West Singhbhum district, a hub of iron-ore and mining activities, would be known for producing rice.
The Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA-Adityapur) has set the ball rolling for a mega rice mill in the district.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren will lay the foundation stone of 14 such rice mills across various districts of the state including the one in West Singhbhum, this afternoon.
The proposed rice mill will be set up at Sialdiha village in Jagannathpur block, about 120 km from Jamshedpur.
Spread over a three-acre government plot, the mill will have a capacity to produce eight metric tonnes of rice per day.
JIADA officials said an agreement between JIADA and a local entrepreneur has already been reached for the mega rice mill project.
The rice mill is expected to become operational by next year.,
Bulk of paddy will be sourced from neighbouring Odisha for processing at the rice mill.
Currently, Chakulia in East Singhbhum’s Ghatshila sub-division is known for rice production with over 30-odd mills, and is fed paddy from neighbouring Bengal.
JIADA officials said the proposed rice mill in West Singhbhum will be equipped with state- of -the- art machinery and equipment for producing quality rice.
According to JIADA officials the other new rice mills will come up at Palamau, Garhwa, Latehar,Khunti, Gumla, Simdega, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Godda.
