Odisha to supply 1 lakh litre milk to cyclone hit Andhra Pradesh

As a good will gesture from the state, Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd (OMFED) has started suppling milk for the babies in the cyclone Hudhud hit areas of Andhra Pradesh, including the worst affected Visakhapatanam.

"We have already supplied 27,000 litre of milk to Visakhapatanam within 24 hours of the cyclone. The state's target is to supply 1 lakh litre of milk for the babies in the cyclone hit areas of the neighbouring state," OMFED Chairman and Manging Director Bishnupada Sethi told PTI.

Odisha Chief secretary G C Pati issued such an instruction to the OMFED after he came to know about scarcity of milk and its abnormal price, which is above Rs 50 a litre, in cyclone hit areas, Sethi said.

"We deposit the milk packets to the district authorities in the Andhra Pradesh for the free distribution among the beneficiaries, " Sethi said adding that the supply of milk to the neighbouring state would not affect the consumers in Odisha.

Stating that the OMFED faced problems in availing insulated vans and tankers to transport milk to Andhra Pradesh, Sethi said the Sea Food Export Association have come forward with certain vans. "We thank the association for extending the help," Sethi said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary has taken up the matter with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart in regard to milk supply. The state can supply more milk if it gets adequate number of insulated vans for the purpose.

Sethi said he has talked to the Collectors of Srikakulam and Vishakhapatnam to know their requirement.