Patna: Young animal rights activists staged a protest rally at Gandhi Maidan on Sunday to draw attention to the environmental and ethical consequences of the dairy sector. Carrying banners and posters, they marched near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, raising slogans against cruelty toward cows and emphasizing the dairy industry's carbon footprint.
Milk production and water usage
Young activist Rishika noted that Bihar has emerged as the ninth-largest milk-producing state in India, with an estimated 128 lakh tonnes of milk produced in 2023-24. She warned that as the state government pushes for further expansion of the dairy industry, it will come at a higher environmental cost. Producing one litre of milk in Bihar requires 1,078 litres of water, placing pressure on regions already facing groundwater depletion. “Patna and much of Bihar continue to grapple with unbearable heat and water stress,” she said, adding that the climate impact of dairy remains widely misunderstood despite its central role in daily diets. Both dairy and slaughterhouses have been categorised as “red industries” by climate experts.
Methane emissions and food security
Another activist, Prince, highlighted that methane emissions further underscore the climate impact. Bihar is the fourth highest livestock methane-emitting state in India, generating around 998 Gg annually from digestion and manure. With rising emissions and water scarcity, food security concerns can no longer be ignored, he added.
The protest aimed to raise awareness among the public and policymakers about the urgent need to address the dairy sector's environmental footprint in Bihar.
