Kolkata, March 26 Paritosh Sarkar, general manager of the Bhagirathi Milk Union, a cooperative based in Murshidabad district, has been suspended by the District Magistrate for supplying 1,00,000 litres of milk per day from March 22 to Gujarat-based Amul against the state government directive. The cooperative had reportedly stopped supply of milk to three nodal state-run dairies.
“During a meeting on March 17, it was decided that the BMU would stop supply of milk to buyers outside the state including Amul. The BMU supplies the best quality milk in the state, and it was decided that its supply would be only for Central (16,000 lpd), Metro (26,000) and Mother (26,000) dairies. Amul was to get 5,000 lpd from the Icchamati Milk Union. However, Sarkar supplied 100,000 lpd to Amul on March 22-24 and ceased supply to the state dairies,” said West Bengal milk commissioner Sundar Majumdar, on Wednesday.
Sarkar said that he had supplied the milk, as Amul was offering a higher rate per litre compared to the state-run dairies. He said, “ Amul is paying Rs 15.55 per litre while the state-run dairies pay Rs 12-13 per litre.” He claimed that the sale would benefit dairyfarmers in the district. Majumdar said that action was taken, as Sarkar had not complied with repeated warnings against supplying milk to Amul.
Meanwhile, State minister for animal resource development Anisur Rahman denied any connection of the incident with the upcoming Gram Panchayat elections in Murshidabad and other districts.
Rahman, who was elected on a CPM ticket from Domkal Assembly Constituency has reportedly been making attempts to garner political mileage for the CPM in the district. “There is a complete set-up for milk cooperatives and a proper hierarchy exists. Sarkar is just an official. He’s not my friend,” Rahman said.
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