Amid massive demonstrations by Opposition BJP, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated an ultra modern mega OMFED (Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation) dairy plant at Arilo in Cuttack district on Wednesday.
The plant has been set up by the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, Odisha government at a cost of Rs 263 crore. It is one of the biggest dairy plants in the State which has the capacity to process around five lakh litre milk per day.
Equipped with modern facilities the automatic plant will produce various high quality dairy products like paneer, cheese, butter , ghee, milk powder and other dairy products from around two lakh litre of milk on a daily basis.
“The plant will help millions of milk producers by enhancing their income capacity. OMFED has been established with an aim to protect the farmers’ interests in the State and we always stand by them,” said Patnaik during the inauguration ceremony.
“The plant will also help consumers get various dairy products at cheaper prices,” he said.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of BJP workers staged demonstrations during the Chief Minister’s visit to the area. The protests were to seek justice for murdered Kalahandi lady teacher Mamita Meher and demands of ouster of Odisha Minister of State (Home) Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged involvement in the case.
They held placards, waved black flags and shouted slogans against the ruling BJD government. Around 50 BJP workers were taken into custody by the police while they were staging demonstrations at Trisulia square in Cuttack.