Collector dissatisfied with milk procurement

Eluru: West Godavari District Collector, K Bhaskar expressed his anger over the dairy development officials over the failure of reaching fixed targets in collecting the milk to government dairies. The official presided over the priority sector progress review meeting held in the Collectorate here on Wednesday.

Addressing the meeting, the Collector questioned the dairy development officials on their failure. He said, “West Godavari is paying the highest price for milk collection in the State. Even then, you fail to reach fixed targets.” He also questioned the Assistant Director, GV Sasankadhar on the decrease in milk procurement. He said that the target was set at one crore litres per annum in the district. “However, even though we pay the highest price to the farmers, the procurement is decreasing day by day. Have you colluded with the private diaries?” the Collector questioned.

He said that a comparison to last year’s procurement recorded a 37 percent decrease during the present year. He directed the officials to implement an action plan to reopen the sick bulk milk-chilling centres. “You are just adjourning the maintenance of G Kothapalli Dairy plant from last July, with no trial runs conducted so far,” he pointed out. He warned that by the next meeting, the officials should run the G Kothapalli Dairy or face severe action.

Reviewing the Rythu Bazaar establishments, he said that out of 50 establishments, so far 13 bazaars have been constructed, of which six Rythu bazaars did not open so far. He directed the horticulture and marketing officials to take necessary steps to open all the Rythu bazaars.

Trainee Collector TS Chetan, Joint Collector-II MH Sheriff, Dairy Development Assistant Director GV Sasankadhar, NABARD Development Manager Rama Prabhu and lead Bank district Manager P Surya Rao participated in the meeting.