Direct Amul Not To Procure Milk In TN

Chennai
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Thursday said the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union or Amul is infringing on themilk-shed area of Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited or Aavin.
Stalin, in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urged him to direct Amul not to procure milk from Aavin's milk-shed area.Stalin referred to Amul setting up of chilling centers and a processing plant in Krishnagiri District and its plans to procure milk in and around Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts in the state.
It has been a norm in India to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each other's milk-shed area. Such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of 'Operation White Flood' and will exacerbate problems for the consumers given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavin's milk- shed area which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades, Stalin said.
Even as there are several private diaries in the state competing with Aavin, Stalin said the move by Amul will create unhealthy competition between cooperatives engaged in procuring and marketing milk and milk products.
Meanwhile, former Union Minister and PMK leader AnbumaniRamadoss said Amul is setting up a processing plant at SriCity in Andhra Pradesh and targets to procure about 30,000 litres of milk daily in Tamil Nadu.Ramadoss said Amul is procuring milk at a price of about Rs 36 per litre whereas Aavin is paying about Rs 32-34/litre. Aavin should increase its milk procurement price.