Jhargram, 4 June (H.S.): After the Trinamool Congress government came to power in West Bengal, a milk chilling center was established in Gopiballavpur-2 block. However, it has been closed for a long time. Now initiatives are being taken to reopen it. The work of setting up 18 milk cooperative centers in Gopiballavpur-2 and Sankrail blocks has been completed. A total of 150 milk cooperative centers have been established in West Medinipur and Jhargram districts.

Jhargram Zila Parishad President Chinmayi Marandi said that people in rural areas are being encouraged to raise cows. Preparations are underway to start milk centers. This initiative will help in increasing milk production in the district.

Notably, the state government has aimed to strengthen the regional economy by supplying quality milk. The milk chilling centre in Gopiballavpur-2 block was closed for more than a decade. The Zila Parishad has taken the initiative to reopen it. The centre was established on the initiative of Pashchimanchal Unnayan Parishad. The machinery of the centre is likely to get damaged due to lying idle for many years.

There was also a demand from local milk traders to start the centre. Milk will be collected from the cooperative societies and cooled in the milk centre. That milk will be sent to Bengal Dairy in Kolkata. Milk and milk products will be packaged and sold in the market. This milk chilling centre will be operated by the district branch of West Bengal Milk Cooperative Centre. 18 milk cooperative centres have already been established in Sankrail and Gopiballavpur-2 blocks. Another 40 milk cooperative centres will be established in Hatibari and Govindpur areas of Gopiballavpur-1 and 2 blocks. Gopiballabhpur-2 Panchayat Samiti President Sharvari Adhikari said that the milk chilling center was built in 2012. Since then, this center has been lying idle. Gopiballabhpur is mainly an agricultural area. All the residents of the rural area have at least one or two cows in their homes. If the milk center opens, the shepherds and milk traders of the area will get economic benefits. Managing Director of Medinipur Milk Union Malay Kumar Das said that the milk chilling center of Gopiballabhpur-2 block will open in the next two-three months.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey