Ranchi: Months after signing an MoU with state govt, a team from ICAR-National Meat Research Institute (NMRI), Hyderabad, will begin their inspection of the closed bacon factory in Kanke from Thursday to chalk out modalities for its revival.In March, state govt roped in CSIR-NMRI to help in restarting the factory, which is closed for the last three decades. During its heydays, ready to eat pork items and sausages from the factory sold under the brand name Ranbac, were in demand across Bihar, Bengal, northeast and even Nepal.The factory, however, closed in the mid-1990s after the multi-crore fodder scam surfaced and former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Yadav and Jagannath Mishra were named in the case. The factory premises were used as a camp jail when Lalu was arrested and brought to Ranchi by the CBI officers. Later on, lack of proper maintenance led to closure of the factory. Currently, the factory is spread over four acres.Niraj Verma, an official of the agriculture and animal husbandry department, who is overseeing the revival project, said that the two-day visit will pave way for a proper blueprint.“The team of experts, after their inspection and evaluation of the existing resources at the factory, will give us a road map for its revival. During a recent review meeting, CM Hemant Soren directed the department to prioritise its revival. We are working on the plan,” said Verma, a meat sciences expert, adding that the revival will be a boon both for the state and its people.“There is a great demand for the meat industry. Around 30-35 quintals of meat are consumed daily on an average in Ranchi alone. Revival of the factory will not just provide quality meat and pork products, but it will also boost rural livelihoods and open new avenues for those associated piggery and allied sectors,” he added.Though the revival plan was made under previous govts, sources said that things didn’t materialise due to various factors, including lack of a suitable partner with required technical expertise. In Feb this year, agriculture minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey announced revival of the factory following an inspection of the area, post which the proposal got cabinet clearance. “Initially, around Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for its revival,” said another official.