Kolkata: The foundation stone of the world’s largest curd production plant in the Howrah district of West Bengal was laid by Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday.
The plant will come up under the Amul Bengal Dairy Project, as reported by PTI.
West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and senior officials of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets dairy products under the Amul brand, were present at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, Kolkata, from where Shah virtually laid the foundation stone of the plant.
The project is being seen as a major move towards the industrial resurgence of West Bengal after the BJP came to power in the state.
“Today, following the victory in the West Bengal elections, I have come here on behalf of PM Modi to sweeten the mouths of the people of the state with “Mishti Doi”. The transformation brought about by the people of Bengal is distinct from any other state Assembly election held since Independence,” Shah said in his address, as reported by ANI.
Coming up at the Howrah Food Park with an investment of around Rs 700 crore, the project will have the capacity to process about 30 lakh litres of milk per day.
The plant will have the capacity to produce around 1,000 tonnes of curd and other cultured dairy products every day, making it the world’s largest curd production facility upon completion, a statement said.
The project is expected to benefit more than 1.25 lakh dairy farmers in West Bengal, including over 30,000 women milk producers, by providing them with a stable market for milk and strengthening the state’s dairy cooperative network, it added.
The project is being developed as part of efforts to expand dairy infrastructure and enhance value-added milk processing in the state.