Karnataka dairy Nandini stops ghee supply to Tirumala temple over ’price issue’

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Aug 01, 2023: The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), selling ghee to Andhra Pradesh’s Tirumala Venkateswara temple under the brand name Nandini, has decided to stop its supply over price issue.

The KMF decided to skip the tender process for the supply of ghee as it was not ready to supply ghee at a competitive rate.

 

“When the tender gets floated, everybody participates in it, and whoever quotes the lowest price wins the tender. We quote almost Rs 400 per kg. When someone quotes Rs 1 or 2 less, the tender will go to that bidder. I don’t know at what price they are buying it, but we have quoted more than 400 rupees according to our procurement,” said Jagadish, MD of KMF.

He said the KMF was the institution that ran for the farmers’ benefits. Therefore, offering low prices is not feasible as it results in a loss.

"But our rate is fixed. We said we will supply ghee at our rate, but they (TTD) said they won’t give that amount. So we are not supplying," he added.

However, TTD executive officer Dharma Reddy dismissed KMF’s claim as "incorrect" and said that the trust procured items only through e-tenders.

"He (KMF president) is making allegations that TTD has not allowed them to supply ghee. The statement of KMF’s president is not correct. I would like to clarify that TTD procures items required only through e-tenders. Since it is an e-tender, we do not know the participants till we open it," said Reddy.

He said given that TTD is a government organisation, the contract is awarded to the lowest bidder as per the tender conditions and procedures.

Courtesy: India Today