Tripura dairy project faces milk supply hurdle

A Correspondent

Agartala: The proposed dairy project with the financial help from Tata Trust at Kalacherra under Kamalpur sub-division of Dhalai district is facing an uncertain future as the target date for the beginning of production has already lapsed and the extended period is also about to expire and a lot of groundwork still remains incomplete.

Installation of the factory and construction of office and quarters for the employees are almost complete; but from where the 5,000 litres of milk needed daily will be coming from is not yet clear. Manipuri Volunteers Union, a local organization, was entrusted with the task of setting up the project with Rs 8.50-crore financial help from the Tata Trust.

The three years’ time stipulated for completion of the project expired in December last and it has been extended till June next. But neither Executive Officer Radha Binod Singh nor Project Officer Bilwa Debbarma could confirm when the production will begin. As per the project, the initiative was taken to form milk producers cooperative in the adjoining villages and the Tata Trust has given Rs 40,000 loan to each co-operatives but very few of them are now operating due to lack of supervision.

It is learnt that some time back, an initiative was taken to begin production experimentally but it had to be abandoned as availability of milk was too insufficient even for experimental production. Apart from milk, the project was suppose to produce paneer and curd, but unless supply of sufficient milk is ensured, the entire project may suffer.

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