Denizens of the State Capital are facing acute shortage of milk apparently owing to short supply of well-known milk brand Sudha- from Bihar for the past few weeks exposing the Animal Husbandry department’s futile exercise to augment milk production in the State.
Sudha Dairy that used to supply milk twice in a day has restricted its supply to morning hours only for the past few weeks as a result of which sizeable number of customers remain deprived of having it. According to retailers, the shortage is due to insufficient supply of milk from Bihar.
A resident of Kanta toli Sunita Baneerjee sharing her ordeal said, “For my tiny tots I require at least two litres milk on daily basis but for the past couple of days I have to return home empty handed. The local milk booth owner produces a simple line ‘milk not available’ whenever I approach him.”
Another resident with the objective to get one litre milk in this crisis scenario stands early in-front of the local milk booths, grins, “Despite coming early in the morning I am not getting milk. As soon as the booth opens people run down to grab the milk packet.”
Meanwhile, due to shortage of Sudha milk, the demand of other local milk products such as Medha, Shyam has gone up. Moreover, the shopkeeper taking advantage of the situation have increased milk price by two to three rupees per liter. Half liter milk packet which uses to cost Rs 19 a couple of week ago is now available at Rs 22 and one liter which was available at Rs 38 is now costing Rs 40 and
even more.
Sudha milk distributor at lalpur area Mandal Kumar said, “Due to acute shortage of milk and milk products the price of other brand milk is increasing considerably. Once the situation comes under control the price will come down.”
Around three lakh liters of Sudha milk is consumed on daily basis in the State capital but presently, near about two lakh liters milk is only being received from Bihar.
Managing Director of Sudha Dairy Harjot Kaur said, “Shortage of milk during summer is regular phenomenon but this time the crisis is severe.”
He further throwing light on the reason behind the crisis said, “Milk produce is directly related to monsoon and due to absence of rain there is rise in price of milk products. There is sharp shortage of milk of about 20 per cent all across the state. The situation is likely to continue unless there is Monsoon shower.”
However, officials of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department do not agree with the fact of drastic increase in the sale of Medha milk packets. AHD Assistant Director Mukul Prasad Singh said, “There is acute crisis of milk in the state capital this time but this does not lead to increase in the sale of Medha milk and milk products. As we are dependent on local procurement the quantity is restricted to 15,000 litres only.”
Surprisingly, despite being aware about the problems faced by the residents due of milk crisis, officials of Food Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs have failed to take any action.
Deputy Secretary of Food Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Rajkumar Choudhary said, “Every year during summer the problem of milk crisis arises and with the onset of monsoon the problem gets solved. The department is yet too decide over any action on the issue.”