CHENNAI: A total of 157 bulk milk coolers will be installed at the Milk Producers Cooperative Societies (MPCS) during the current financial year to ensure long shelf-life of milk products, Minister for Dairy Development U. Mathivanan announced in the Assembly on Friday.

Moving the demand for grants for his department, he said as part of ensuring quality and clean milk production activities, the coolers were being installed at the MPCS on a cluster basis at a total cost of Rs.15 crore. They would chill milk within 30 minutes of milking, arresting bacterial growth. Transport costs would also be reduced.

A total of 22 bulk milk coolers had been commissioned and orders placed for 49 more units. During 2007-2008, it was proposed to install 86 coolers to enhance the chilling capacity by 4 lakh litres a day, Mr. Mathivanan said.

As many as 200 new milk producers' cooperative societies would be organised with 5000 beneficiaries belonging to various self-help groups under an Asian Development Bank-assisted project to create infrastructure in the tsunami-affected districts. The Government had sanctioned Rs.619.15 lakh under the restoration of livelihood of the tsunami-affected people component of the project.

Veterinary dispensaries

Moving the demands for grants for the Animal Husbandry Department, Minister for Animal Husbandry P. Geethajeevan said the Government would set up 40 veterinary dispensaries at a cost of Rs.575 lakh.

"It is proposed to augment green fodder production in district livestock farms at Orathanad and Abishekapatti by bringing an additional 100 acres under fodder cultivation at a cost of Rs.60 lakh," she said.

The Government would establish an Ethno Veterinary Herbal Research and Training Unit for Livestock Health Care at Thanjavur at a cost of Rs.18 lakh during the current financial year. It would earmark Rs.17 lakh for developing a vaccine against Coliform Mastitis.

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