BMC is considering relocating 10,000 milch animals from 264 tabelas in Mumbai to Aarey Milk Colony, following opposition from tabela owners to a previous plan to shift them to Dapchari.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of India has requested the state dairy department to consider relocating approximately 10,000 milch animals currently housed in 264 tabelas across the city to the Aarey Milk Colony. This move comes after opposition from tabela owners and milk producers regarding an earlier plan to shift the animals to Dapchari in Palghar, located about four hours away from Mumbai.
The original plan, based on a 2023 High Court order, directed that all tabelas in Mumbai, except those within the Aarey compound, be relocated to Dapchari in Palghar. However, following resistance from the Mumbai Milk Producers Welfare Association, the plan has been put on hold. The association argued that relocating the tabelas so far from the city would not be feasible, as fresh milk, which the tabelas deliver without additives, would spoil during the long journey from Palghar to Mumbai. Additionally, tabela owners raised concerns about the safety of workers and animals during the extended transport process.
“When we informed tabelas in the western and eastern suburbs about the shift to Dapchari, they told us it was simply not feasible.”
Kiran Dighavkar, the deputy municipal commissioner of BMC,
Following these concerns, the association proposed relocating the tabelas to the Aarey Milk Colony instead, where 150 acres of land had already been allotted to 30 tabelas in the 1950s. At present, the colony houses around 16,000 animals, though it has space for up to 34,500 cattle.
During a meeting held in August, the Milk Producers Association emphasized that most of the tabelas in Mumbai house between 50 and 60 buffaloes each. They expressed concerns that long-distance travel to Dapchari would lead to milk spoilage and pose logistical challenges. They further requested that the remaining 264 tabelas be accommodated in Aarey, where there is sufficient space to house the animals without disrupting milk supply to the city.
While the proposal to shift the tabelas to Aarey is under consideration, the opposition from milk producers underscores the importance of maintaining fresh milk supply in Mumbai. The BMC has acknowledged these concerns and is working with the state dairy department to find a solution that balances logistical feasibility with the needs of India’s milk producers and consumers.
