Dairy farmers rally over land transfer dispute

metro india news  I KARIMNAGAR

Hundreds of dairy farmers staged a massive rally from Karimnagar Dairy to the Collectorate on Monday, protesting the transfer of dairy land records from the Dharani portal to the name of the Telangana State Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (TSDDCF) in the newly introduced Bhu Bharati portal. The protesters demanded that the government take immediate steps to protect Karimnagar Dairy and restore its land records in the dairy’s name. The rally was led by Karimnagar Dairy chairman Dr. Chelmada Rajeshwara Rao and saw the participation of thousands of dairy farmers.

The protesters also demanded the immediate release of the Rs. 4 per litre incentive that has reportedly been pending since 2018. They further sought the provision of two dairy cattle to every dairy farmer at a 50 per cent subsidy. 

Following the protest, dairy representatives led by Rajeshwara Rao submitted a memorandum to the district Collector. The protesters urged the government to intervene immediately and restore the lands to Karimnagar Dairy. They said lakhs of dairy-farming families depend on the dairy for their livelihood and warned that any action affecting the institution could have serious consequences for them.

They appealed to the government to use Karimnagar Dairy milk in government schools and to ensure that the dairy purchases milk from farmers at a better price. The farmers called on the State government to take measures to support the dairy sector and prevent the livelihoods of nearly one lakh families from being affected. The protesters questioned his silence of Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar  despite the allegations and said his lack of response had raised suspicions among dairy farmers.

‘Land transferred without notice’

Karimnagar Dairy chairman Rajeshwara Rao alleged that the dairy’s lands were transferred from Dharani to the Federation’s name in Bhu Bharati without serving any notice to the dairy management. He said the dairy was suddenly served notices on August 3 asking it to vacate the premises. Rajeshwara Rao said Karimnagar Dairy had been supplying ghee to temples and milk to government schools. He alleged that the dairy’s supply orders were cancelled and given to the Federation, despite the dairy having offered a higher quotation.

He clarified that KMPCSL belongs to dairy farmers and that the institution has no political affiliation. According to Rajeshwara Rao, the Collector responded positively to the memorandum and assured the dairy representatives that a meeting would be convened on August 22. The Collector also reportedly assured them that the memorandum would be forwarded to the State government. Rajeshwara Rao said the dairy farmers would decide their next course of action based on the decisions taken at the proposed meeting.