State zeroes in on Amul for modern dairy at Ganjaria
The world's largest producer of milk and its assorted products - Amul - has been chosen by the state government to set up the Rs 200 crore modern dairy on 20 acres of Chak Ganjaria farmland on Sultanpur Road.
When it comes to ushering in the 'white revolution', Uttar Pradesh, it seems, savours the same flavour that tickles the palate of the entire country.
The world's largest producer of milk and its assorted products - Amul - has been chosen by the state government to set up the Rs 200 crore modern dairy on 20 acres of Chak Ganjaria farmland on Sultanpur Road. "Amul is keen to start work on the project by March end and ready to pay the cost of the land allotted to it at the prevailing industrial rate (Rs 4,800 per square metre) in the region," said a senior state official.
On Wednesday, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was given a presentation of a blueprint for setting up an IT city, a medi city and a hi-tech township along with this dairy on 825 acres of the Ganjaria farm land.
The milk brand with its base at Anand in Gujarat has set a deadline of 18 months for completing the plant from the date of clear allocation of land and necessary approvals. It has sought a two year moratorium and payment in five years in five equal annual interest-free installments to the government.
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav laid the dairy plant's foundation on September 3, 2012. Initially, the state government had decided to seek aid from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) for the project that was to be given shape by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
"A decision in principle has now been taken to allow the LDA to provide the infrastructure at the site and anchor the whole project," said another official, who attended the meeting. Work would commence once the cabinet gives its nod to the proposal, he said. At one point of time, there was a move to relocate the dairy that would have a capacity to process five lakh litres of milk daily to an alternative site on the Faizabad-Barabanki Road.
"Officials were, however, told to integrate the development plan with the existing animal husbandry department's buildings at the site that include a training centre and a spin mill godown," said the official. The animal husbandry department too has been allocated 5 acres. The remaining land pie, according to the official, would be shared thus: 150 acres for IT City and the IIIT, 125 acres for a medical city and a cancer institute, 20 acres for a modern dairy and 525 acres for a hi-tech township.