Patna, Sept. 21: Milk prices in the state capital are competing with petrol prices in their northward movement. Barely a week after the Centre announced a hike in petrol prices, Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation (Comfed), popularly known by its brand name, Sudha, has yet again increased the prices of standard and full-cream milk.

From September 23, citizens will have to cough up Rs 2 extra on standard and Rs 4 more on full-cream milk.

Like fuel prices, the rise in milk price has been quite frequent in the state. This is the third time that Comfed has hiked its prices this year. Ironically, the frequent fuel price rise has been blamed for the northward movement of milk prices.

Consumers understandably are not very happy over the hike.

Reena Kumari, a resident of Shastri Nagar, said: “Instead of bringing down the milk price down, the government is increasing it. Milk is one of the most important commodities in any family. I have two children and they need milk everyday. The latest price rise will surely affect my monthly budget.”

Comfed officials, however, claimed that with the general increase in the prices of all commodities, they were helpless to prevent a hike.

Patna Dairy Project managing director and Comfed chairman Sudhir Kumar Singh told The Telegraph: “We were forced to increase the prices of milk following dairy owners ’demands. Their production cost has gone up, as the price of cattle food has increased. Dairy owners are not being able to cope with the sudden price rise.”

Comfed supplies 1.8lakh litre milk to Patna everyday.

Singh said: “Increased prices of petrol and diesel have also led to an increase in transportation cost. As a result, the production cost has increased for dairy owners. There is no option but to increase the prices.”

Milk prices were increased twice earlier this year. In February, it went up by Rs 1.5. The price was again increased by Rs 0.5 in March.

Animal and fish resources minister Giriraj Singh said: “The central government is unable to keep a check on inflation. Price of every essential commodity has gone up across the nation. As a result, milk production cost has also increased.”

The minister said: “When Comfed had proposed to increase the price in December 2010, we requested them to not to do so. They had accepted our request then. But now, they have expressed their helplessness and we are compelled to raise the price.”

He added: “Our government is selling milk at least charge compared to other states. In Delhi, one has to shell out Rs 40 for a litre. We are giving a benefit of Rs 10 to our people. Transportation costs will increase if petro prices continue to rise. Dairy owners cannot compensate for that from their own pockets.”