HYDERABAD, Aug 3: Retailers want the district government to raise the price of milk to Rs40 to Rs42 per litre from Rs38, citing Rs1.50 raise per litre in wholesale price by dairy farmers and commission agents as the reason.

President of the Hyderabad chapter of Retailers Milk Sellers and Welfare Association Faheemuddin Sheikh and general secretary Abdul Rehman Nagori said on Sunday that dairy farmers and commission agents had increased the price of milk on Aug 1.

If the district government took action against dairy farmers and commission agents it would stabilise price of milk. With the raise of Rs3.60 since April 1 consumers were already facing problems and now they had again raised prices, they said.

Citing figures, the office-bearers said that dairy farmers and commission agents had increased the price by Rs2 per litre in Feb, Rs3.60 in April and a Rs1.50 on Aug 1.

They said that they had informed the district government about the raise but instead of taking action against dairy farmers and agents to force them to reduce price it started imposing fines on retailers.

They held dairy farmers responsible for raise in milk price and appealed to the district government to take their arguments seriously and decide itself who was actually responsible for raising prices.

“Until July 31 we were getting milk at Rs35 per litre, putting the price of 40 litres at Rs1,400 and now since Aug 1 onwards they will supply us milk at Rs36.50 per litre to fix 40 litres price at Rs1460,” said Mr Sheikh.

In addition, hike in power and gas tariff, fuel prices and rising cost of shopping bags would also have to be added to the price. The district government could control prices if it took action, they said.

To a question about quality of milk, the office-bearers insisted they were selling pure milk.

It was up to the district government to take action against the people who were selling adulterated milk to people, they said.

“Ninety per cent milk sellers in the city are selling pure milk and its just 10 per cent of them who are involved in adulteration,” said Abdul Rehman Nagori.

The dairy farmers’ association leader Yusuf Jatoi could not be reached over phone despite repeated attempts. Most dairy farmers claim that adulteration in milk takes place at retailers end.