Mumbai: Milk supply to Mumbai and surrounding areas remained largely unaffected on Thursday as tankers from Pune, Kolhapur and Solapur, and Gujarat arrived under police escort on Thursday, the fourth day of agitation.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti said assistance is being provided to milk tankers within the city limits, while protection outside the city’s jurisdiction is being provided by the police force concerned.
“We have set up bandobast points at all entry and exit roads to the city, and police escort is being provided to milk tankers that ask for it,” Mr. Bharti said, adding no untoward incidents in Mumbai has been reported so far.
Gokul dairy sent 20 milk tankers to the city. They had managed to send 15 tankers on Wednesday. A senior dairy official, who did not wished to be named, said around 60% of their stock has depleted due to the agitation. “The distribution till now has not been adversely affected. If the situation continues, Mumbai may face problems,” the official said.
Mohan Yedurkar, managing director, Warana dairy, said their distribution has not been affected although their supply has come down by 5%. “Protesters had tried to stop some of our milk tankers, which were coming from Kolhapur on Monday, but since then we had received police protection and operations went on smoothly,” he said.
According to J.P. Patel, deputy commissioner, Dairy Development department, the excess milk used for milk powder is being used to tackle the shortage in supply. The department still has enough stock to last a day as agencies like Gokul and Amul have been sending in their supply.
“For now, we are re-compensating our milk stock. If supply from Gokul reduces, Amul provides more. Amul has been transporting its stock under police protection,” Mr. Patel said.
An official from Mahanand dairy said they have sufficient stock for two more days. Milk from Gujarat is being ferried by trains. A train with two milk containers reached Bandra Terminus at 4.30 a.m. on Thursday.
A senior railway official said the milk containers were then taken to the Mumbai Central.