Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Supplyco to start home delivery

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran said here on Friday that the State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) would start home delivery of essential commodities and other items next month.

The Minister said `stretch retailing' would be introduced both in cities and panchayats.

In cities, orders can be placed on the Internet. While essential commodities would be supplied as per regular prices announced every month, other items would be sold at the maximum retail prices indicated on the packaging.

Mr. Divakaran said 1,000 more Sabari stores would be set up in the State within a year.

He said the Government has started distribution of `atta' (flour) fortified with iron and vitamin B through ration shops on a pilot basis.

It will be initially available in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Palakkad and Kannur districts from Friday. Distribution will begin in Ernakulam district in the first week of February.

The price will be Rs.11 a kg. About 5,000 tonnes of wheat will be converted into `atta' every month for marketing in the five districts.

Cells headed by the Collector have been constituted in all districts to monitor the markets.

Shops inspected

The authorities inspected 17,725 shops and steps have been initiated against 425 traders, including 145 vegetable vendors, he said.

The Minister said the reduction of allocation of grains by the Centre was weakening the public distribution system in the State.

This helped the private sector to increase prices of various commodities. Strong laws were needed to check price rise and the Centre should be taking the initiative in this regard.

He said the State was considering its own legislation as the Centre had withdrawn the Essential Commodities Act.

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