Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

NDDB trying to control milk federation: Mahadev

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore Sept. 30. The Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sugar, M. Mahadev, today criticised the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for allegedly trying to usurp the powers of the State Government and gain control over the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) because it had given loans to the KMF.

Inaugurating the administrative and HRD building of the Karnataka Veterinary Council at Hebbal here, the minister said the NDDB should not dictate terms to the KMF. It was the Government that controlled the KMF, and there was no need for the NDDB to interfere in its management, he added.

Questioning the authority of the NDDB to "interfere" in the affairs of the KMF, Mr. Mahadev said the other financial agencies such as the World Bank or the NABARD had granted thousands of crores of rupees to the federation, but had not behaved like this. `They could also try to control it (the KMF)," he remarked.

Mr. Mahadev said a veterinary centre would be constructed and the veterinarians' quarters located on the first floor. Facilities for providing emergency treatment to animals would be made available. The Animal Husbandry Department had a large extent of land in its possession where fodder would be grown and supplied to farmers.

New university

About the proposal to set up a veterinary university in Bidar, the minister said a final report on it had been sent to the Government. An Ordinance would be promulgated for establishing the university. The State Cabinet had decided to set up an animal welfare board, and the Centre would provide financial assistance of over Rs. 4 crore, he added.

The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, could not inaugurate the building, and Mr. Mahadev read out his speech. Mr. Krishna stressed the importance of preserving the older breeds of cattle and other animals as they were facing extinction.

He said that though the State was reeling under drought for the third consecutive year, it was producing 20 lakh litres of milk daily. Only Gujarat produced more milk. There was a need to launch a zone for the development of animal husbandry in the State along with a veterinary research council, he added.

C.K. Jaffer Sharief, Congress MP, criticised the Government for continuing online lotteries which, he said, were driving farmers to bankruptcy.

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