SSS calls-off 4-day milk collection bandh agitation

Sangli, Maharashtra, June 30 (UNI) Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana (SSS) today called-off its four-day-long milk collection bandh agitation after a joint meeting between State Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil with SSS MLA Raju Shetty.

Mr Patil and Mr Shetty made the announcement jointly at a press conference at Circuit House here.

Mr Patil said he discussed milk issue with Mr Shetty in detail and assured him that after Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's arrival, a scholars committee will be set-up to study over the issue, keeping the interest of milk supplying farmers and milk consumers.

The committee will submit its reports to state government with in 15 days and government will then immediately initiate action, Mr Patil said.

Government administration is presently engaged in tackling flood situation in the state, he said adding that the government will possitively look into SSS demands after committee reports are available, Mr Patil said, which was accepted by Mr Shetty who there after called off the agitation.

Later, Mr Shetty told reporters that the farmers milk agitation had been stopped for some time but however, warned that if the State government failed to take a decision in this issue, the milk bandh agitation would be restarted.

SSS had launched an indefinite agitation since June 27 demanding a hike in milk rates from the existing Rs 12 to 18 per litre for milk with six per cent fat to the milk supplying farmers in the State.

The daily milk collection is about 20 lakh litre in Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts in Western Maharashtra with about ten lakh litres of milk being contributed by Kolhapur alone. Business worth crores of rupees was affected in these areas.

UNI