Mumbai, December 8: Dairies in Maharashtra has decided to suspend the sale of milk in Plastic pouches from December 15. In the response, the plastic manufacturers from all over the state are expected to go on an indefinite strike. The dairies have also decided to pay farmers Rs 20 instead of Rs 25 per litre, the normal rate paid to farmers. The subsidy of Rs 5 will be held by milk manufacturers until the state government releases their uncleared dues. Milk Adulteration Busted by FDA in Mumbai; Here's How to Check If Milk is Pure Or Not.

According to a report in Indian Express, the dairies in Maharashtra sell 85 lakh litres of milk in the plastic pouches every day. With the state government's ban on plastic in June this year, dairies were supposed to put a buyback mechanism, this would allow a customer to sell pouch for Rs 50 paise each.

However, the scheme was stumbled due to the weak buyback mechanism. Reportedly, the plastic manufacturers have announced to discontinue the production of pouches from December 15, to protest the buyback scheme. Milk Supply in Mumbai to be Hit? Manufacturers Threaten to Stop Production Over Plastic Recycling Rule.

The Indian Express claimed that representatives of private and cooperative dairies decided to stall the sale of milk in Plastic pouches from December 11. Secretary of Milk Producers and Processors Association, Prakash Kutwal told Indian Express, “Dairies will run out of pouches by then and we will have no other option but to suspend the sale.” About 85 lakh litres of milk is packed in Maharashtra every day, which requires 10,000 tonnes of plastic every year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 08, 2018 02:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).