The Hindu Business Line : Palm oil, red gram to be sold in rythu bazaars, fair price shops

Hyderabad, April 24 The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to supply palm oil and red gram dal to all the 117 rythu bazaars across the State from May 1 and to all the fair price shops from June 1.

“One litre of palm oil and one kilogram of red gram dal will be supplied to all the 1.88 crore white card holders in the State from June along with the Rs 2 per kg of rice. The State Government has decided that palm oil will be available at Rs 40 per litre and red gram dal at Rs 30 per kg at the fair price shops,” Mr Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy, Civil Supplies Minister, told reporters after the Group of Ministers (GoM) on pluses, edible oil, vegetables presented their report to the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, here on Thursday.

‘Working out the price’

The Government, however, is yet to come out with the price at which both these commodities will be available at the rythu bazaars. The Civil Supplies Minister said that they are currently working out the price and it will be announced soon.

The GoM has put before the Chief Minister 11 short-term, five medium and five long-term recommendations to control the recent rise in prices of essential commodities.

Mr Reddy added that all the district collectors have been asked to hold meeting with traders in their respective districts and to take stringent action against black marketers and hoarders.

“It was also decided to enhance the Central Marketing Fund, which is under the Joint Collectors, from the earlier Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh,” he added.

The State Government has also decided to increase the vegetable seed subsidy from the current Rs 600 per acre to Rs 1,200.

Monitoring panel

“Also the price monitoring committee will be strengthened and a toll free number provided. The Government will interact with various retail chains in the State and urge them to bring down the prices,” Mr Reddy said.

As part of the medium-term measures the Government has decided to spend Rs 100 crore for market intervention and provide a subsidy of Rs 375 crore for pulses and palm oil.

“We will also request the Central Government to reinstate the special courts under the Essential Commodities Act. These courts were removed in 2002,” he said.

More Stories on : Social Welfare | Commodities | Andhra Pradesh

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