TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday warned that he would take over Goa Dairy, if it fails to reduce the price of milk to generate higher sales by forthcoming Legislative Assembly session which is likely to be held in January 2014.
Parrikar, who is also Minister for Agriculture also hinted at replacing Goa Dairy with Amul milk in the State if the dairy fails to provide better quality of milk at cheaper rate. “Government is ready to take over the dairy and improve the quality of milk. We can also replace them with Amul, if required. There are various options available,” he said.
Government can also set up chilling units in the towns from which very fresh and better quality milk at lower price can be made available to people, Parrikar added.
Chief Minister was replying to the calling attention motion moved Wednesday by MGP legislator Lavoo Mamledar about smuggling of milk to the neighbouring State from Goa resulting in inadequate and insufficient supply of milk to the local market.
Mamledar sought to know the steps government intends to take in resolving the issue. Parrikar said that notice has been issued to Goa Dairy seeking a proper reply on the sale of milk outside the State within seven days, failing which stringent action would be initiated. He said that the dairy, which has a total capacity of 1.24 lakh litres of milk, has excess milk, since due to high rates and poor quality people are not opting for it.
“Hence they are selling milk outside Goa,” he said adding ‘the price of milk has to be reduced to attract higher sale along with aiming at high turnover’. Parrikar said that government is paying enough subsidies to the dairy to sell milk at lower rates.
Chief Minister said that State in due course of time, will fulfill its main aim to make Goa self sufficient in milk production.
