FIR against Mamata Banerjee over alleged Calcutta High Court order violation

The Madras High Court has instructed Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (TNCMPFL), the owners of the Aavin dairy brand, to promote the reintroduction of milk sale through automatic vending machines (AVM), also known as ‘button paal,’ in Kodaikanal and Udhagamandalam. This directive came after TNCMPFL Managing Director Ajay Yadav provided a status report to the court, revealing the recent operation of the first AVM in Kodaikanal and the second in Udhagamandalam.

Each AVM can hold 200 litres of milk, yet only 80 litres were sold in Kodaikanal during the initial days and a mere 3 to 6 litres were sold in Udhagamandalam. The unsold milk was reprocessed accordingly. The court heard that while the public response has been positive, more awareness is needed for the daily milk dispensed to increase.

TNCMPFL assured that the AVMs' performance would be continuously monitored and daily sales data would be recorded for assessment. The court urged TNCMPFL to popularise the AVMs among the residents of Kodaikanal and Udhagamandalam, in order to discourage the use of plastic sachets for milk, which pose an environmental hazard.