Eight months after its inauguration, the new ice cream plant, constructed by the Tiruchi District Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union on the Aavin premises at Kottapattu on Tiruchi-Pudukottai Highway, has begun production.

It was built at an estimate of ₹21.57 crore under the Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund. The plant has a capacity to produce 6,000 litres of ice cream per day. It is capable of producing 10,000 litres of curd, lassi, and other products. It took more than two years to build the plant. The plant was declared open through video conferencing by the then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in January.

It was stated that the plant would initially start producing curd in cups and then ice cream. Though it produced curd in small quantities in the initial stage, it did not produce the much awaited ice cream. The plant was kept idle for about eight months, thereby drawing criticism from various quarters. The payment of interest on account of the ice cream plant had put pressure on the financial health of the milk union.

Ajay Yadav, when he was Commissioner of Milk Production and Dairy Development, visited the Aavin factory to take stock of the situation six weeks ago. Accompanied by Collector Pratik Tayal, Mr. Yadav inspected the milk processing unit and the newly constructed ice cream plant. They held a detailed discussion with the officials on milk procurement, processing, demand, and supply of milk in Tiruchi, the operation of an ice cream plant and others. The Commissioner gave instructions to the officials to start ice cream production. The ice cream plant has been brought into use producing ice cream.

P. Sundaravadivel, general manager (in-charge), told The Hindu that production of ice cream in candy, cones, and cups had been started. It was producing 10,000 cups of ice cream in different flavours. They have been marketed in Tiruchi and neighbouring areas through the Aavin parlours, super markets and others.

With the production of ice cream, Tiruchi Aavin would be in a position to market almost all types of dairy products on its own without depending upon other sources. The ice cream plant was equipped with an ingredient preparation section, refrigeration units, freezing equipment, and packing unit. The plant would be equipped to produce all types of ice creams with different tastes and flavour.