The Hindu : National : Open market sale scheme for wheat revived

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 03, 2007
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National

National

Open market sale scheme for wheat revived

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Concerned over the increase in the retail prices of wheat and atta, the Centre on Friday decided to release up to 4 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market under its Open Market Sale Scheme (domestic) during February and March. The scheme has been revived after a gap of 10 months.

Wheat prices are ruling abnormally high in some southern States. In Bangalore and Chennai, it is Rs.17 a kg. In Thiruvananthapuram, it is as high as Rs.18 a kg. In Mumbai too, the retail wheat price is Rs.15.75 a kg.

According to the Food Ministry sources, the sale of wheat would be targeted at those centres in different regions that are recording high wheat and atta prices. These include parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra

Wheat stocks on January 1 stood at about 58 lakh tonnes. ``We will end the year (March 31) with 45 lakh tonnes as against the buffer norm of 40 lakh tonnes,'' said Siraj Hussain, Joint-Secretary (Policy) in the Ministry of Food.

So far about 49 lakh tonnes of imported wheat has arrived in the country, of which about 46 lakh tonnes have been discharged at various ports. The Government has raised the minimum support price of wheat this year to Rs.7.50 a kg from Rs.6.50 a kg last year.

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