Ajmer: Cooperative Saras dairies in the state are now getting only 80% of their usual supply of PNG (piped natural gas). Chairman of Ajmer Saras dairy, Ramchandra Choudhary, Thursday called a meeting with officials of private gas suppliers to discuss if supply of PNG could be covered under ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act).Choudhary said the officials stated that as per the notification of the Indian govt on March 11, Saras dairies will now get 80% of PNG based on average consumption from Sept 2025 to Feb 2026. They said they had written to the Indian govt to allow 100% PNG supply to dairies, Choudhary said.Choudhary said the reduction in PNG supply would affect milk processing and lead to a cut in milk production. He said he spoke to the managing director of Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF), Shruti Bhardwaj, on phone to demand relief for Saras dairies.Choudhary said milk was an essential commodity and Saras dairies also supply milk to children in govt schools under the mid-day meal scheme. The dairies also provide 30,000 metric tonnes of milk powder to schools under a scheme of the education department, he said. “The Ajmer Saras dairy processes milk from 10 districts of the state, but with the low supply of PNG, the processing will be disrupted,” Choudhary said.He demanded that alternative arrangements be made by supplying natural gas from Indian-owned oil companies so that the supply of milk is not disrupted in the market. “We are hopeful that the Indian govt will take the notification back and give relief to Saras dairies of Rajasthan,” Choudhary said.
