Bengaluru, Oct 29 The Bangalore Hotels Association on Thursday opposed the increase of Rs 8 per litre in milk prices, warning that it would force hotels to raise the prices of coffee, tea and other food items prepared using milk.
In a statement, the association said the proposed hike was unprecedented and urged the government to limit the increase to Rs 2-3 per litre to avoid a rise in prices at hotels.
“If the increase is restricted to Rs 2-3 per litre, there would be no need for hotels to raise the prices of coffee, tea or snacks,” it said.
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to hike Nandini brand milk prices by Rs 8 per litre. Of this, Rs 7 would go to farmers and Re 1 to the cooperatives (Karnataka Milk Federation). The price hike will be effective from November 1.
The association said the steep increase would affect not only hotel businesses but also ordinary consumers, senior citizens, pregnant women and children, for whom milk is an important source of nutrition.
It urged the government to keep the prices of Nandini milk and milk products affordable and encourage greater consumption.
The government should also control the administrative expenditure of the dairy industry and provide incentives to farmers to limit the price increase, the association said, adding that the impact on the common people must be considered while taking decisions involving substantial price hikes.
The association further pointed to the rising prices of rice, saying that the continued increase, coupled with the proposed milk price hike, would make it inevitable for hotels to increase the prices of coffee, tea, snacks and other food items.
(PTI News)
