VMC refuses land to Amul-maker at special rates for garden milk parlours

The plans of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) to set up dairy parlours at 11 public gardens in the city suffered a set back last week when the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) refused to grant it land at concessional rates.

Through a proposal late last year, the federation, which markets the products of popular Amul brand, had sought land from the VMC at concessional rates to set up Amul parlours and make dairy products available to visitors in the gardens.

Acting on the proposal, the Land and Estate (commercial) Department of the civic body proposed to allot GCMMF plots of 300 square metres each at annual rent of 15 per cent of the price of the land on government records but not less than Rs 72,000 for 10 years.

However, the standing committee trashed the proposal last Friday saying the federation would have to secure plots of land through competitive auction. "We had auctioned two stalls at Sayaji Garden around a year ago and the process had generated good rewards for the VMC. We want to take the same route to give away space in other gardens. Amul is a big brand but we shall allot land on our terms," Vijay Shah, chairman of standing committee of VMC, said on Sunday.

"We believe Baroda Dairy, Havmore and many other franchises will be interested to set up parlours in these gardens. So, auction is the right way to allot plots," Shah further said.

The gardens are located in upcoming areas like Sama, Manjalpur and Karelibaug.

Incidentally, Vadodara District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, popularly known as Baroda Dairy, operates its Sugam parlours in a few gardens, including Sayaji Garden, in the city. It pays Rs 3.3 lakh to the VMC in annual rent for its parlour in Sayaji Garden, the biggest public garden in the city.

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