Sambalpur, Jan. 5: The ice cream plant being set up by the state-run Odisha Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (Omfed) in the city is expected to start production before summer this year.

Manager of the plant - called Sambalpur Dairy - P.C. Jena said: "The machines of the ice cream plant have already been installed. However, some work related to laying of the service line are yet to be completed."

The foundation stone for the project was laid in September 2014. The Omfed had set a target to make the ice-cream plant functional by 2016, but the project missed the deadline. "Expansion work to increase milk processing capacity of Sambalpur Dairy is on. Once this is done, our capacity will double. Work on the ice-cream plant is getting delayed because of the ongoing expansion work. But this work will end shortly," he said.

The estimated budget for setting up the ice cream plant, which will produce 3,000 litres of ice cream every day, is Rs 8 crore. The ice-cream plant is being set up under the Centre's Rastriya Krishi Vikash Yojana. While the government of India has funded 75 per cent of the total budget of the project, Omfed has contributed 25 per cent. The ice cream produced at the plant will be supplied to 36 wholesalers, 350 agents, four railway parlours, two department dairies and six institutions under Sambalpur Dairy.

The consumers of Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Brjarajnagar, Ib Thermal, Belpahar, Bargarh, Barpali, Binka, Sonepur, Padmapur, Deogarh, Kuchinda, Rairakhol, Burla, Hirakud, Rourkela, Sundargarh, Rajgangpur and other areas of this region will get access to the product.

"There will be high demand of the Omfed ice cream here because the mercury hovers around 45°C during summer in this part of the state," said Bimal Pradhan, a shop keeper.