Chief Minister of Assam performs bhoomi poojan for expansion of Purabi Dairy Plant at Guwahati

In a major milestone for Assam’s dairy sector, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, performed the Bhoomi Poojan ceremony for the expansion of the Purabi Dairy plant at Panjabari, Guwahati. The event was organised by West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Ltd (WAMUL), which is managed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

The ceremony was graced by several dignitaries including Shri Jogen Mohan, Hon’ble Minister of Cooperation, Government of Assam; Shri Krishnendu Paul, Hon’ble Minister of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Government of Assam; Shri Ravi Kota, Chief Secretary, Government of Assam; Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB; M.S. Manivannan, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary; and Shri Anant Lal Gyani, IAS, Secretary, Cooperation, Government of Assam.

The Purabi Dairy plant, operated under the WAMUL banner, is the largest dairy processing facility in North-east India. The upcoming expansion aims to double the milk processing capacity from 1.5 lakh litres per day (LLPD) to 3.0 LLPD. Additionally, the plant will include new ice cream and fermented milk production facilities, as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NDDB and WAMUL during the Assam Advantage 2.0 Summit.

The Panjabari facility has already seen significant growth, having been upgraded from 60,000 litres per day to 1.5 LLPD under the World Bank-assisted APART project. This enhancement enabled widespread distribution of Purabi Dairy products across Assam and achieved nearly 100% capacity utilisation within just 18 months of commissioning.

During the ceremony, Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB, apprised the Hon’ble Chief Minister about NDDB’s ongoing sustainable dairy initiatives in Assam. He highlighted the successful production of FOM (Fermented Organic Manure) and PROM (Phosphate Rich Organic Manure) from digested dung slurry, as well as the integration of biogas generation and organic manure application into the dairy value chain. These efforts aim to promote circularity and reduce the sector’s carbon footprint.

With the expansion, NDDB and WAMUL reaffirm their commitment to driving sustainable and inclusive dairy development in Assam. The upgraded facility will further strengthen the cooperative framework, support value-added product diversification, and enhance the overall capacity to meet the rising demand for quality dairy products in the region.

Source - National Dairy Development Board