Clear milk, butter stocks in KMF, govt told

JD(S) floor leader in the Assembly H D Revanna on Thursday demanded that the State government immediately clear the huge butter and milk stocks in various units of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and pay dairy farmers their dues.

Addressing a press conference in the presence of representatives of eight KMF units, Revanna threatened to stage a dharna in front of the residence of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on September 10, if the government failed to take steps to clear the stocks.

Revanna said Rs 238 crore of working capital had been blocked due to the piling up of 12,000 tonnes of milk powder and 3,792 tonnes of butter in 14 units of KMF.

“The stocks have been piling up for the last eight months. The stocks will be spoilt if the government does not intervene and make arrangements to clear them immediately,” Revanna said and claimed that the State government had not responded to his letters in this regard.

Revanna alleged KMF had stopped paying farmers who supplied milk in the last six weeks, resulting in pending dues to the tune of Rs 220 crore.