Will give contract to Milkfed if it lowers rates, says SGPC

GS PAUL

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 16

The SGPC has declared that Milkfed would be considered for supply of desi ghee and dry milk to gurdwaras only if it offered products at rates lower than what the Maharashtra-based firm had agreed to.

Reprimanding those who were raking up the issue of ignoring state’s only cooperative milk producers’ federation, SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal’s personal secretary Mohinder Singh Ayali said the order for three-month supply of desi ghee and dry milk was placed with Pune-based Sonai Dairy as per tender norms and gauging the ‘credibility’ of the firm.

“If Milkfed was ready to supply us desi ghee and dry milk at rates lesser than Sonai Dairy, we could consider hiring Milkfed after the lapse of the three-month order. Otherwise, it would not be justified. The issue is being given political colour in the garb of sentiments of the devotees,” he said.

Not feasible, claims Minister

Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said it would not be feasible for Milkfed to offer quality products on lower rates. He said: “I wonder how the Pune firm, which would have to bear the freight charges of 2,000 km to transport the products here, agreed to supply products at such illogical rates. It was the sole prerogative of the SGPC to decide, but it is a pity that devotees’ money would be absorbed by an outside firm.”

Thousands of dairy farmers have been associated with Milkfed. It was being stated that losing SGPC’s order worth several crores would directly hit their income.