Team Herald
PONDA: Chairman of the Goa Dairy’s three-member Administrative Committee Durgesh Shirodkar on Wednesday informed that the sudden strike by some milk transporters without any notice caused the dairy a loss of Rs 14 lakh as around 28000 litres of milk failed to hit the markets across the State.
Stating that due to the strike, milk could not be supplied to Panjim, Bicholim, Canacona and Verna, Shirodkar said milk transporters’ demand is not yet known and warned that such things would not be tolerated in future.
Addressing media persons Shirodkar said, “Transporters went on strike without notice. They did not meet us to discuss their issues if any. The Goa Dairy is for milk farmers’ interest and we will not succumb to any pressure to fulfil their (transporters) vested interests. Alternative vehicle arrangements have been made to supply milk to the markets across the State from Thursday onwards.”
He said, “Of 36 transporters, only 14 supplied milk while, four vehicles were arranged by Goa Dairy. Of 36 routes, 20 missed on milk supply. I drove a tempo today and supplied milk to Margao areas. Under my chairmanship during last seven months the Goa Dairy earned a profit of Rs 2 crore just by adopting cost cutting measures and by plugging the leakages where money was spent unnecessarily.”
He said, “It is difficult to rely on milk transporters. I urge the Goa Dairy Milk Society/farmers to purchase a vehicle to supply milk to the markets on their own. This would make Goa Dairy self reliant. Recently, on December 9, some transporters even displayed high handedness by threatening the Goa Dairy staff. We even filed a complaint but the police failed to act.”
Meanwhile, Goa Dairy sources informed that the contract with milk transporters is for four years. After four years, the Goa Dairy recently issued e-tendering and several milk transporting contractors did not participate as they expected the Goa Dairy to retain their contract. They may have launched the strike to pressurise Goa Dairy to continue their services without initiating e-tendering process.
