City remains unaffected, WR to arrange for milk from Guj

MUMBAI : As the state-wide dairy farmers’ strike entered Day Two on Tuesday, protestors tried to block vans and spilled milk on the roads. However, the milk supply to the city and its surrounding regions remained unaffected.

Rajiv Jadhav, the state dairy development commissioner, said, “Only 15% -20% of milk supply in the state has been affected. It would not result in milk shortage in Mumbai as the priority of the dairies is to supply milk to the consumers instead of using it for making milk powder and other dairy products.”

Raju Shetti, the chief of farmers’ group, Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana, said the strike will continue, as the government has not given them any positive assurance.

To resolve the issue, Speaker Haribhau Bagade chaired a meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior leaders from the Opposition, but the discussions remained inconclusive. The state has now decided to call representatives of milk cooperative societies and private firms to

discuss the matter on Thursday, a CMO official said .

The government has issued directives to provide police protection to milk tankers wherever required. Sunil Porwal, additional chief secretary, home, said, “No one will be allowed to stop the supply of milk from one place to another.”

At some places, protestors spilled milk on roads, while at some others, they distributed milk free of cost to locals. In view of the strike, Western Railway (WR) decided to make special arrangements to supply milk from Gujarat to Mumbai through

its passenger train — Ahmedabad-mumbai Central, to avoid protestors on streets. Two milk tankers, each having a capacity of 44,000 litres will be sent to Mumbai, Ravinder Bhakar, chief public information officer, WR, said.

The decision was taken on Gujarat Dairy Development Corporation Limited (GDDCL)’S request. Mumbai gets 11 lakh litre of milk every day from Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). RS Sodhi, GCMMF managing director, said, “Our daily procurement has been affected. This may impact supplies from Thursday.”