Consumer body urges Maharashtra government to ensure supply

City-based consumer organisation Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP) has appealed to the state government to ensure uninterrupted milk supply to Mumbai in the event of agitation launched by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) demanding a higher price. Besides, MGP in its letter sent to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday has demanded that an expert committee be set up for the determination of milk procurement price and retail price to consumers to make the entire process transparent.

MGP sent the letter few hours after SSS activists blocked and allegedly vandalised some milk vehicles across the state. The consumer body said it was sympathetic about farmers' hardships and towards their demand for fair and just price, however, it cannot justify coercive tactics of stopping milk supply. "Such acts are inhuman, condemnable and therefore need to be dealt with firm hand at the earliest,'" said MGP chairman Shirish Deshpande.

Deshpande argued that it was the government's duty to ensure that milk supply to Mumbai and other places was not affected following the SSS agitation. He demanded that the government should initiate necessary legal actions for causing disruption.

Further, MGP pressed the need for constitution of a committee comprising experts and stakeholders including the dairy farmers and consumers to determine the formula for milk procurement price and retail selling price in a fixed time frame. "Such scientific and rational approach by the government alone prevent exploitation of the situation by irresponsible leaders who take pride in holding city consumes as hostages to coerce you to submit their demands," he opined.