Vendors seek law to act on adulterators

The demand gains significance after the High Court issued a gag order against Dairy Development Minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji, restraining him from speaking against private milk firms without any proof of adulteration. Ponnusamy told DTNext, “Such an act could be moved in the current session of the Assembly.” He explained that it could be done keeping in mind the Supreme Court’s interim orders in 2013 and 2014 and the final orders in 2016. 

“The apex court has clearly stated that individual states are free to enact such laws on their own and the time is ripe now,” he added. Stressing on the need for the TN Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (Aavin) to increase its procurement in other districts of the state, he urged the government to create more infrastructure for the cooperative. 

With more than 33 lakh litres of milk being produced from the farms in state daily, Aavin could procure only 16.6 per cent of this milk in the entire state though it was the market leader in Chennai city with a 48 per cent market share. 

“Hence, the need of the hour for Aavin is to increase its milk storing facilities by starting new chilling centres and dairies so that daily milk procurement ranged between 50 per cent and 75 per cent, Ponnusamy said. He added that the present practice of retailers selling Aavin milk at rates higher than the MRP to consumers could be stopped if Aavin reintroduced the old practice of direct commercial links between milk agents and the head office. 

The move, which ended in the year 2000, has resulted in the milk unit meeting retailers needs through its wholesalers, “Which is bad for both consumer and retailer,” he noted. 

Aavin officials, when asked, said efforts were under way to increase various facilities to increase daily procurement at the state level. Details on other issues could not be divulged now due to the ongoing Assembly session, they added.