The modern milk powder manufacturing plant coming up at an estimated cost of ₹150 crore at Padalur in Perambalur district is likely to be completed by December.

Being established by Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd., which owns the Aavin brand, the 60-tonne plant is being set up with NABARD Rural Infrastructure Development Fund 2022-23. The plant will have a capacity to process about six lakh litres of milk a day.

The plant is coming up with a floor space of 8,000 square metres. It would be a seven-storey structure and equipped with advanced machinery required for manufacture of milk powder, including skimmed milk powder, and other dairy products such as dairy whitener and butter.

While the civil construction works are being executed at a cost of ₹26.53 crore, work is also underway on erecting machinery worth ₹120 crore, said A. Annadurai, Commissioner of Milk Production and Dairy Development, who reviewed the progress of civil works and the erection of machinery along with Collector S. Arunraj and other senior officials on Friday.

Mr. Annadurai instructed the officials to expedite the works and complete them by December.

This will be one of the biggest such plants in the State and benefit milk suppliers from 11 districts including Perambalur, Tiruchi, Ariyalur, Karur and Pudukottai. Surplus milk would be converted into milk powder and other dairy products at the plant.

Mr. Annadurai discussed with the officials the quantum of current milk procurement in the districts, the milk routes and creation of link roads for smooth transportation of milk to the plant from the producers in remote villages.