Centre sanctions Rs 25 cr for dairy development in Haryana

Chandigarh, Apr 2 (UNI) Central Government has sanctioned two ambitious projects involving an investment of Rs 25 crore to give boost to dairy development in Haryana, Minister of State for Cooperation Meena Mandal said here today.

The Minister said one of these projects, the Integrated Dairy Development Project, would have a total outlay of Rs 15 crore and aim at providing financial assistance for dairy development activities in five districts of Bhiwani, Mahendergarh, Jhajjar, Rewari and Sonipat.

She said that under this project, bulk milk coolers would be purchased at a rate of 11 per district to provide chilling facility at the doorsteps of the producers and improve quality of milk being supplied in urban markets. Also, a working capital of Rs one crore would be provided to each district. A sum of Rs 35 lakh per district would also be provided for setting up of milk parlours and purchasing milk tankers. Apart from this, Rs 65 lakh would be provided to each district to form society and develop manpower for running of societies. Under this project assistance would be in the shape of 100 per cent grant.

The Minister said that under the second project, 50 per cent of the assistance would be provided by the Central government and the remaining would be the share of the State government to provide assistance to loss making unions so as to write off their cash losses.

She said a sum of Rs one crore had been sanctioned by the Central Government under this scheme, the remaining funds would be sanctioned next year.

She said this project aimed at purchase of machinery required to overcome capacity bottlenecks and upgradation for enhancing operating efficiency in processing of milk at milk plants.

The project also aimed at increasing procurement of milk through creation of additional societies and enhance coverage of villages thus increasing the volume of operations for greater contribution and better return to producers.

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