Punjab Newsline | Sirsa
The ‘Milk Shutdown’ agitation in Haryana, launched from October 1 to 3 over demands for an increase in milk prices, entered its second day on Friday. In Sirsa, farmers and livestock owners have set up a permanent protest camp outside the Vita Milk Plant, aiming to stop the supply of milk to the facility.
During the protest, farmers allegedly seized two milk drums from a milk vendor on Kanganpur Road and emptied the milk onto the road. An argument broke out between the vendor and the protesters, following which police were called to the spot. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
In view of the protest, farmers have formed village-level committees to prevent dairy operators from transporting milk to the Vita plant.
Meanwhile, the plant management has revised the schedule for vehicles transporting milk to and from the facility. The Sirsa Vita plant normally receives around 70,000 to 75,000 litres of milk daily.
Plant CEO Dinesh Mehta said that around 75,000 litres of milk reached the plant on Thursday, combining the morning and evening supplies. On normal days, the plant receives around 78,000 to 80,000 litres.
However, livestock owners’ organisations claimed that milk supply was short by around 30,000 to 35,000 litres on Thursday. The Dairy Association has also extended its support to the agitation and has reportedly made public announcements in villages urging participation.
The impact of the protest has so far remained limited at Haryana’s other five Vita plants in Rohtak, Jind, Ambala, Ballabhgarh and Kurukshetra.
