Bengaluru: Close on the heels of fuel price hike by Rs 3 per litre, milk prices (Nandini) is up by Rs 2 for a litre in Karnataka and the hike in milk prices will come into effect from Wednesday. The hike in milk prices was announced by president of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) chairman and MLA Bheema Naik in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Bheema Naik told reporters that milk prices have not gone up for a litre of milk supplied by KMF, a subsidiary of the State Government. In fact, customers have been charged for extra 50 ml added to half a litre and a litre of milk supplied by KMF.
Naik sought cooperation of customers stating that the milk prices in Karnataka is lower when compared with the neighbouring States brands and pointed out that milk price in Kerala costs Rs 52 a litre while it is Rs 56 in Maharashtra, Rs 58 in Andhra Pradesh and a litre of milk costs Rs 54 in New Delhi. Milk price in Gujarat is Rs 56 a litre.
President of Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association P.C. Rao stated that he did not understand the logic behind the 50 ml extra milk added to sachets and also hike in milk prices. Rao said that KMF is supplying milk at low cost in the country and stated that a decision on hiking rates on food items in hotels will be taken in the coming days.
To a query, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was unaware of the decision of the KMF hiking milk prices and stated the milk prices in the State is less than other States. He assured to hold talks with the KMF Chairman on a hike in milk prices.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok urged the Chief Minister to roll back the hike in milk prices in the interests of the poor and middle class families and pointed out to the Chief Minister that milk prices has been hiked for second time after the Congress government came to power in May 2023.
Ashoka said the ruling Congress government hiled the milk prices in August previous year and again the milk prices have been increased especially when people of the State are reeling under recent fuel price hike decision.
