Milk supply hit

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 26

The imposition of curfew to prevent the spread of Covid-19 led to disruption in milk supply in the city. Despite the fact that the administration has given three hours (from 5 am to 8 am) for the purpose, milkmen are not able to reach all houses within the given time.

Raja Kotala, a milkman, said: “I collect milk from villages in the evening and I leave my home around 2.30 am daily and distributing at 5 am, but I cannot cover all households by 8 am. I have to go back with huge quantity of unsold milk.”

For three days until Thursday, collection of milk wasn’t allowed. On Thursday, Verka and some other private firms started collection but it they could do it only once a day.

Simarjit Singh, in-charge at a milk collection centre, said: “I collect 3,000-litre milk from villages every day. But the police did not allow me to open the centre for three days. After intervention by the Deputy Commissioner, milkmen were allowed to resume work today (Thursday).” But the collection centers and private milkmen were able to collect the milk only once a day, he said. Generally, farmers milk their cattle twice a day and give the fresh milk to milkmen or collection points of Verka, he added.

Davinder Singh, a farmer, said: “I have three buffaloes and used to sell 15-kg milk twice a day. Now, the milkman has suspended the morning collection and we have to use 6-kg milk at home. We are making khoya, cheese or desi ghee with it.”

Deputy Commissioner Shivdullar Singh Dhillon said Verka was delivering milk on the doorstep. There were some issues being faced at present, but the supply would be streamlined soon, he said.