Maharashtra announces Rs 25 per litre as minimum price of milk; to come into effect from July 21

In a bid to end the four-day-long dairy farmers’ protest, the Maharashtra government on Thursday has accepted one of the key demands of the protesters.

Following the state-wide protest, the Devendra Fadnavis government has announced Rs 25 per litre as the minimum rate of milk for the dairy farmers. The new rate, however, will come to effect from July 21 in Maharashtra.

“Maharashtra government announces Rs 25 per litre as the minimum rate of milk for dairy farmers, following state-wide protests over the demand. The decision will be implemented from July 21,” the news agency ANI reported.

#Maharashtra government announces Rs 25 per liter as the minimum rate of milk for dairy farmers, following state-wide protests over the demand. The decision will be implemented from July 21. pic.twitter.com/D6PaV4w9Fb

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2018

The farmers had been holding protests in parts of the state since Monday, seeking a hike of Rs 5 per litre in the procurement prices. The impact of the protest was felt particularly in Mumbai and Pune where milk supplies were partially affected.

Read | Fadnavis to hold meeting with oppositions over Maharashtra dairy farmers' protest

Though the protest has not created an acute shortage of milk yet, the agitation has intensified with families of dairy farmers also pitching in.

"I'm ready to withdraw the agitation if the milk-purchase rate is fixed around Rs 25 per litre," Raju Shetti, Swabhimani Paksha MP, who is spearheading the stir, had said.

The minister made the announcement after a meeting convened by Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, leaders and representatives of milk suppliers’ federation were present at the meeting.

The major milk-producing districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Ahmednagar and Nashik supply bulk of the stock to Mumbai and Pune. Some units in Thane and Palghar also supply milk to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Read | Milk protest intensifies, suppliers block tankers; CM says govt open for talks

Thursday, Shetti had vowed to stop trains carrying milk to the state from Gujarat. A Western Railway official earlier said milk tankers would be attached to the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central passenger train to mitigate problems faced by consumers.

(With inputs from PTI)