The roadmap was drawn out for making the Milk Pasteurization Plant Leh functional by the 15th of July in a meeting held on July 4.

The meeting was chaired by the Divisional Commissioner Ladakh, Saugat Biswas with the CEO, LAHDC, Leh, Animal Husbandry Department, Cooperative Departments and the Executive members of Ladakh Milk Producer’s Cooperative Federation (LMPCF), Leh.

Saugat Biswas appreciated the efforts put forth by the district administration in removing major bottlenecks of funds to make the pasteurization plant functional. The plant was lying defunct since last seven years. He in consultation with all stakeholders finalized the technical and operational measures to be taken for the sustainable functioning of the plant.

He urged the concerned department to device a systematic mechanism for streamlining processing, packaging, branding and marketing the pasteurized milk. Cooperatives and the animal husbandry department will integrate the milk cooperatives of Leh in the supply chain effectively, the Div Com directed.

He further urged Milk Producers Cooperative Federation to make a capital investment in packaging material, its printing and certain recurring operational cost. He asserted that the uninterrupted functioning of this milk plant is in the overall interest of milk producers of Leh district, and subsequently Kargil too.

Engineers of PDD and PHE department were directed to install a 100KV transformer and bore well at the plant site. ACD Leh was directed to complete the compound walling within three weeks.
Avny Lavasa, DC assured training and handholding to the operating staff from the milk cooperatives.

Phuntsog Angchuk, Chairman Ladakh Milk Producer’s Cooperative Federation, Leh apprised that the Federation covers 52 villages and produces around 14,000 litres of milk per day during summer months.

He said that the Pasteurization Plant will benefit the milk producers hugely and in the coming days, people in the villages will join the milk cooperatives.

Saugat Biswas also visited milk pasteurization plant and took stock of the existing machinery and the new cooling infrastructure. He directed Dr. Iqbal, Chief  Animal Husbandry to propose for creation of technical posts for operating the pasteurization plant.