Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

More rice for APL section

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The quantity of rice distributed to the 50 lakh APL cardholders in the State would be increased from 3 kg to 10 kg soon, Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran said.

Mr. Divakaran told reporters here on Friday that 54,000 metric tonnes of boiled rice would be distributed through the ration shops within the next few days.

The 10,000 metric tonnes each allotted for May and June would be lifted in advance from the Food Corporation of India warehouses.

The Chief Secretary has directed the District Supply Officers and District Collectors to clear all administrative hassles to ensure the smooth distribution of rice through the ration shops.

Meanwhile, the distribution of rice at Rs.13.50 and Rs.14 a kg through the Civil Supplies Corporation outlets too would continue.

Though the government has completed negotiations with the Andhra Pradesh government for procuring rice at Rs.16 a kg, a five-member delegation comprising the Food Secretary and the Civil Supplies Corporation managing director will leave for West Bengal on May 5 to explore the possibilities of procuring 4.5 lakh tonnes of rice at competitive rates.

Since the government has decided to meet the transporting expenses, the rice to be procured from West Bengal can be distributed at Rs.14 a kg. Mr. Divakaran said he would go to Delhi on May 11 to press the demand for restoring the rice quota to the State.

The Centre has offered to restore the quota on surrendering the wheat allotment to the State, but the government has rejected the proposal, he said. The decision to lift the Central allotment in advance, creation of a buffer stock of rice and procurement from West Bengal are expected to bring down the prices within the next few days, he said.

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