CM Shivakumar defends milk price hike

Bengaluru, Oct 31 (UNI) Defending Karnataka's decision to increase milk and curd prices amid mounting criticism from consumers and opposition parties, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the revision would channel an additional Rs 1,850 crore to Rs 2,100 crore annually into the rural dairy economy, benefiting nearly 28.84 lakh milk-producing farmers. The revised prices will come into effect from November 1, with milk becoming costlier by Rs 8 per litre and curd by Rs 14 per litre. The price of Nandini toned milk will rise from Rs 46 to Rs 54 per litre. Shivakumar said the increase was…