The Krishna District Milk Producers’ Mutually Aided Coop Union Limited has hiked the price of milk sold by it under the brand name Vijaya. The hike in price will come into effect from Wednesday. Vijaya low fat (double toned) costs Rs. 34 per litre, and half a litre at Rs. 17 with butter 1.5 per cent and SSF 9 per cent. There is no change in the price of 200 ml Vijaya low fat (double toned), which will be available at Rs. 7.
Vijaya economy (toned) (butter 3 per cent, SSF 8.5 per cent) will cost Rs. 36 a litre; Vijaya premium (standardised) (butter 4.5 per cent, SSF 8.5 per cent) will cost Rs. 38; Vijaya special (mixed) (butter 6 per cent, SSF 9 per cent) is available at Rs. 42 a litre; Vijaya gold (butter 6.5 per cent, SSF 9 per cent) will cost Rs. 44 a litre, while Vijaya cow milk (buter 3.5 per cent, SSF 8.5 per cent) will cost Rs. 38 a litre. The milk will be supplied at old rates for those who purchased the cards for October 10 to November 9. The union said that the increased prices are in view of the escalation in maintenance and other costs.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao demanded a rollback of the hike immediately. People were facing hardships due to steep rise in the prices of essential commodities. The hike in the price of milk was another blow for the commoner. The milk factory was supplying 2.5 lakh litres of milk every day. The hike would be a burden of Rs.5 lakh per day, and Rs. 18 crore a year on the city, he said, adding, “the CPI (M) would launch an agitation if the hike was not rolled back.”