Mangaluru: Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai said the Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd (DKMUL) should set up a milk plant in Puttur.The MLA told reporters on Monday that directors from the region were also supporting the proposal of setting up a plant in Puttur. The DKMUL gets more milk from Belthangady, Sullia, Puttur, Vittal and surrounding regions. Further, the Union has been procuring milk from Hassan. The milk procured from these regions is transported to Mangaluru and sent back after processing. Based on a request from DKMUL, 10 acres of land was sanctioned for the union to set up a plant in Puttur. However, it was later decided to set up a plant in Bantwal, said Rai.The Mangaluru plant of DKMUL functions on govt land. Residents nearby have been complaining about the smell emanating from the plant and the union also has been facing the issue of water scarcity there. They are now arranging water in tankers. Further, the plant also has been facing an issue of waste disposal, the MLA said, adding it will be financially viable for DKMUL if the union sets up a plant in Puttur.However, DKMUL president Raviraj Hegde said the union has not taken any decision on opening a plant in Puttur yet. He said the union’s milk procurement in Puttur and surrounding regions is more, but it has a huge market of 2.23 lakh litres of milk in Mangaluru region. “When there is a plant in Mangaluru, setting up another mega dairy in Puttur will increase the cost of production,” he added.
