HYDERABAD: Iodised salt and seedless tamarind will be sold to cardholders at reduced price of Rs. 4 and 23 per kg respectively through fair price shops shortly.

The outlets will also sell pulses like tur dhal, blackgram and greengram at subsidised prices as their production in the State has gone up by 33 per cent this year. The prices of these pulses had soared in the open market due to lack of supplies this year from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu where these crops had failed.

Civil Supplies and Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy told a press conference here on Tuesday that bulk quantities of tur dhal, blackgram and greengram had been procured through MARKFED and they would be sold to cardholders through the fair price retail outlets with the help of self-help groups. Similarly 20,000 quintals of tamarind left over from the previous year's crop is with the GCC and it would also be made available for Rs 23 a kg.

Supply of iodised salt

He said the Government had decided to supply iodised salt through fair price shops because of the Central ban on conventional salt coming into effect from next month all over the country. Asked about the viability of a low end price of Rs 4 per kilo when the market price of iodised salt was Rs 8, he cited bulk supplies offered by Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, the likely offer of VAT concession and plan to avoid expensive packing.

On the distribution of ration cards, the Minister said the exercise was complete in all the towns. It was slated to be over by the end of this month in Hyderabad. In all, 25 lakh cards have been distributed in rural areas so far. The rest of the villages would be covered by May 15.

TDP charge ridiculed

Regarding complaints of officials denying monthly ration to families who were not photographed using Iris technology for the purpose of identity, Mr Reddy said eligible families could draw rations even without it. Punitive action would be taken on officials who were found denying rations.

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