About 50,000 litres of milk poured on road

SATARA: Shetkari Sanghatana and Shiv Sena leaders on Thursday poured about 50,000 litres of milk on the road at the Krantisinh Nana Patil chowk in Phaltan about 70 km from Satara to protest against the Union government's decision to import ghee and milk powder.

The leaders claimed that the government's move would adversely affect milk prices and that some private companies had decided not to buy milk from farmers as a result of the move.

As the agitating leaders poured milk from three tankers on the road, there was a massive traffic jam. "Shetkari Sanghatana leader Shankar Godse and Shiv Sena leader Viraj Kharade were detained and taken to the police station and later released," said sub-inspector Sanjay Pujari.

Godse said, "The Union government, through the National Dairy Development Board, has decided to import 30,000 tonnes of milk powder and ghee at Rs 147 per kg and Rs 260 per kg respectively. The government has waived import duty on these items which will make them cheaper than local products. These goods are to land in Mumbai on August 18. We have decided not to allow unloading of these goods."

Godse claimed that the Shetkari Sanghatana and Shiv Sena decided to take the drastic step because milk prices would reduce by Rs 5 per litre in the wake of the government's decision. "Maharashtra is one of the leading producers of milk and farmers keep milch animals as a supplementary source of livelihood. We have learnt that in the coming days private milk companies have decided to reduce their milk purchase by 24 lakh litres," he said.
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