1,811 Aarey milk stalls leased for Rs7 each a day

Mumbai: The opposition rocked the state assembly on Monday, alleging that the government had leased out 1,811 Aarey Milk Colony stalls to a private player for a paltry Rs7 a stall per day. The agitation intensified as the dairy development minister faltered in replying to the opposition’s queries. Finally, chief minister Ashok Chavan had to intervene and assure the house that the lease orders would be revoked if anything was found amiss.The opposition alleged that the 1,811 stalls that were to be run by sons of the soil had been leased out to a private player. The dairy development department was accused of having a “mala fide” intention in reviving the deal that had been stayed by former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh two years ago.

Dairy development minister Nitin Raut first denied that his department had handed over the stalls to a private player, but later admitted to it. Members from the opposition benches jeered the minister, calling him a “liar”.

Opposition leader in the assembly Eknath Khadse said, “Vilasrao Deshmukh stayed the order on May 28, 2008, after he found irregularities in it. However, Chavan’s government revoked the stay in July 2009. The contract was awarded to a company which is a subsidiary of a big name in the country. The contract has been given at such a cheap rate that it would lead to a huge loss for the government.”

Raut told the house that the deal, struck for five years, will fetch Rs2.13 crore. “The contract has been given to Sheetal Arch for five years to sale milk and milk-based products.”