The district administration on Monday decided to send a proposal to the State Government for setting up a milk chilling plant at Bhatagaon in Dhamtari district, officials said. The detailed discussion on the matter was held in the review meeting of the Animal Husbandry Department chaired by District Collector Bhim Singh. The Collector directed the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department to prepare a proposal soon.
The administration has decided to develop the district as a milk route and planning to increase the number of Milk Producers Cooperative Societies. Officials said that the milk chilling plant is being planned at the old building of the Irrigation Department at Bhatagaon. The administration has already sanctioned Rs15 lakh for the repairing of the old building and other facilities.
In future the administration will sanction more funds for other activities and for setting up the plant.
So far, 1786 farmers have been connected through 42 Cooperative societies. The milk farmers have been earning about Rs46 lakh per month by selling milk.
The district collector told officials to increase the number of societies to 80 so that the district creates a special identity and is known as a milk route.