Dairy tourism to be developed on Aarey land, says minister

Animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries minister Nitin Raut today informed the legislative council that the State government is planning to develop dairy tourism on the hundreds of acres land of Aarey Milk Dairy in Mumbai.

Replying to a motion under the Maharashtra Legislative Council rule 260 moved by Jayprakash Chhajed (Congress) and others, Raut said the dairy tourism proposal was being worked out, and would soon be placed before the cabinet for its approval.

He refuted allegations made by some opposition members that the government was planning to sell off the Aarey land, and said a rehabilitation proposal for the 1,263 hutments encroaching on the land was now under government's consideration.

Raut said a proposal has been made to the government to set up a joint committee comprising representatives of dairy development, food and home departments to detect and prevent milk adulteration.

Another proposal to give adulteration-related powers, now vested in the food and home departments, to his department has also been made, he said.