Karnataka CM directs officials to pay incentives due to milk producers

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed officials to pay milk producers incentives that are due to them, immediately.

Siddaramaiah had called for a meeting of officials and milk dairies to discuss about the management of excess milk that is getting produced in the state.

During the meeting the CM discussed with the officials the steps to be taken to manage excess milk getting collected and also about extending the government's popular 'Ksheera Baghya' scheme of providing free milk to school children from three to five days, an official release said.

It said he directed the officials to ensure no delay in payment of incentives to milk producers, adding that dues should be paid to their bank accounts immediately and milk unions should keep a watch on this.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that 61 lakh kgs of milk is collected every day,while market capacity is only for 42 lakh kg, leaving an excess of about 20 lakh kg every day.

They also informed him that if the market facility is developed in accordance with the production, there would not be much problem, while also suggesting that students be provided milk for five days, instead of three days.

They also told the CM that there is a stock of about 20,000 metric tonnes of milk powder and there is a fresh demand from Telangana for one lakh litres of milk.

Siddaramaiah promised officials that government would considerg giving permissions for setting up more milk power manufacturing units.

Co-operation Minister H S Mahadev Prasad and Animal Husbandry Minister T B Jayachandra were also present at the meeting.