HYDERABAD, Jan 7: The district government could not enforce its writ on the issue of retail price of milk as retailers did not reduce the price of per litre milk in open market despite decision taken at a meeting of the price control committee held on Saturday.

The retailers continued to sell milk at Rs32 per litre as they said that they were unable to cope with the situation arising out of sudden surge in rates by milk's bulk suppliers and cattle farmers. By-products of milk have also registered rise in prices.

The retailers apprehend that a further increase in milk price would be witnessed during summer season because consumption of milk increased in shape of different items like milky soft drinks, ice-creams and sweets while on the other hand cattle farmers believe that a deficit of 2,000 maunds of milk per day could not be overcome in the city because cattle breeding has become a tough business due to increase in animal food supplements prices.

According to calculation of a dairy shop owner of Gari Khata Aqeel Ahmed, they were getting 40 litre of milk for Rs1163 through a commission agent, putting per litre cost at Rs29.075 while until recent increase in prices it was available at Rs1023 per 40 litre with one litre cost of Rs25.575.

He said that the commission agent was earning a profit of Rs43 on per 40 litres after getting 40 litres of milk at Rs1120 (having one litre cost at Rs28) and added that it revealed that retailers were paying Rs1163 per 40 litres of milk, showing an increase of Rs140 in previous rates.

With the increase in milk price the rates of sweets and other by-products have registered an increase in the city.

A soft drink bottle containing milk is now available at Rs25 against previous rate of Rs22. 'Rabri' is being sold in posh locality at Rs220 kg against its rate of Rs200 per kg. Mava (condensed milk) is available at Rs180 against Rs160 per kg while Rabri of Grade II is available at Rs180 against Rs160 per kg.

Some of the retailers said that they obtained milk directly from farmers and they even paid cost as high as Rs1500 per 40 litres during summer. Yoghurt was being sold at Rs40 and Rs42 per kg against previous rates of Rs36 per kg. They maintained that cattle farmers should be asked to reduce their margin of profit significantly.

On Sunday hardly any retailer sold milk at Rs30 as fixed by the price control committee.

President of All Hyderabad Anjuman Retailers Doodh Faroshan, Faheemuddin Sheikh said that retailers spent Re1 on cooling and shopping bag for each kilo of milk while Re1 was charged by middleman per litre. “We are in fact paying Rs1200 for 40 litres of milk including Rs40 commission of agent”, he remarked.

President Mehran Cattle Association Yusuf Jatoi said that they in fact obliged district government by agreeing to provide milk to middle man or retailers at Rs28 per kg which does not include any profit on their part.