Milk collection by the dairies across Kolhapur district has been affected as several roads are shut following flooding in 13 rivers. Gokul dairy’s milk collection alone has dropped by roughly 25,000 litres in the past six days, dairy officials said.
Heavy showers have pounded the district over the past week. At present, 81 barrages are inundated and 450 villages are affected by road closures. Traffic had to be diverted to alternative routes.
Panhala and Gagan Bawda tehsils have been the worst affected by the road closures.
Although bulk coolers are available with the dairies in some locations, access to the local cattle farmers has been cut off in many cases. As a result, the collection has been affected.
Ashok Shah, a resident of the Ambai tank area, said: “Our milkman comes daily to Kolhapur city from the Andur village to supply milk to 25 odd customers. Since Monday, as the road to Gagan Bawda has been shut, the milkman has not been able to come. In the past three days, we have bought packet milk.”
