Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Rice to cost 50 paise less

Thiruvananthapuram: Traders have agreed to reduce the price of rice in the open market by 50 paise per kg from December 24.

Their representatives gave an undertaking to this effect at discussions held with Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran here on Friday.

The Minister, on his part, offered to take up with the Finance Minister, their demand for exemption from paying 1 per cent VAT on food grains in view of the present situation.

He undertook to convene a conference of food ministers of the southern States to discuss procurement, movement and price of food grains.

He added that rice shortage was due to the stance adopted by farmers of Andhra Pradesh that they would not give levy till they got a better price.

The issue had since been solved through talks and rice supply, resumed.

Mr. Divakaran promised to set up cells of officials and traders to monitor prices and enact a law to prevent monopolies from procuring food grains by paying advances to the farmers.

Upon realising that wagon shortage was standing in the way of bringing rice from Andhra Pradesh, the Minister said, he had spoken to Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu and solved the issue.

The Civil Supplies Corporation and the Consumer Federation sold matta rice for Rs. 14 per kg and raw rice for Rs. 13.50 per kg.

Mobile rice shops had been pressed into service in the coastal and tribal areas and colonies.

Officials from Andhra Pradesh reached the State on Friday to sign a long term agreement on rice supply. The government proposed to sign an MoU with that State soon, the Minister added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Geetha wins Goteberg film festival award
Rs.20-crore finishing factory to be set up for coir in Alappuzha
BSNL extends Christmas offer
BJP activists court arrest
Rice for students
120 acres allotted for space institute
Rice to cost 50 paise less
Tourists stay away from costly Kerala
Parks for senior citizens
Chandy wants probe into KSTP contract
UDF protest
Eco-friendly coir products launched
Christmas at Mascot
Temple web site launched
State Level Bankers’ Committee meeting on Monday
Land acquisition for road project picking up
Thiruvananthapuram today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu