Milk costlier by Re 1 in Delhi, NCR

There is more bad news for Delhiites who are already grappling with soaring prices of vegetables and fruits.

There is more bad news for Delhiites who are already grappling with soaring prices of vegetables and fruits.

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Dairy chain majors Mother Dairy and Amul on Sunday announced a hike in the prices of milk in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Hiked by one rupee, the price rise has Resident welfare associations and homemakers up in arms. Mother Dairy has increased the prices of three variants of milk.

Double toned milk will now be available at Rs 19 per litre and toned and bulk vended milk (token milk) would now cost Rs 20 per litre. Skimmed milk of Mother Dairy will now cost Rs 17 a litre.

The country’s largest dairy cooperative, Amul, has also hiked the price of its double toned milk by rupee one to Rs 19 a litre.

Notably, prices of vegetables and pulses have gone up by Rs 10-15 in the last fortnight, owing to lack of rainfall in various parts of the country. Vegetable and fruit volumes have also come down by more than 50 per cent.

“We are already fighting with rising prices of essential commodities such as vegetables, fruits and pulses. The increase in milk prices now is definitely going to affect the household budget,” said Savita Kalra, a housewife residing in Mayur Vihar Phase I in East Delhi.

A spokesperson for Mother Dairy said that an increase in procurement price of milk and milk commodities forced them to increase prices.

“The prices of full cream and toned milk in poly packs was increased last year and therefore, will remain unchanged,” the Mother Dairy spokesperson said.

The price rise comes after a gap of 22 months. But several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in the Capital have strongly opposed the increase.

“Mother Dairy was set up to provide quality milk and vegetables at affordable prices to the public. It was provided cheap prime land for setting up booths and vending machines by the Delhi Government and the Delhi Development Authority,” alleged Ritu Bhatia, General Secretary of Mahila Pragati Sheel Association.

“But it is selling milk and vegetables at higher prices than other private retail chains,” Bhatia said.