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Srinagar, Jun 20 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government today ordered an inquiry into the fixation of milk rates and constituted a committee to analyse and fix the rate of pasteurised milk.

Acting on a UNI report, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Minister Taj Mohi-ud-din strongly reprimanded the erring officers and ordered an inquiry into the fixation of milk rates to be conducted by the CAPD Additional Secretary.

He further ordered to constitute a committee to analyse and fix the rate of pasteurised milk.

The Minister denied that he has fixed any rate, as it was the prerogative of the officials concerned who do it after proper verification and deliberations.

He said Khyber Agro Forms and other milk processors had alleged that the CAPD department used to harass and prosecute them without authority. After examination, it was found that the notification of fixing the price has since lapsed and no new survey had been conducted, the Minister added.

Private milk companies had yesterday announced a sudden increase of Rs two per litre in milk rates.

This was the fourth such increase since October last year when a litre was being sold for Rs 14.

Khyber Agro Farms, one of the main milk suppliers in the Kashmir valley, had said the rate will remain applicable till the state government comes out with a notification under guidelines by the Minister concerned as agreed at a meeting on June 18.

UNI