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Petro price hike affects PDS

BERHAMPUR: The hike of petroleum price has also affected the distribution of subsidised PDS material for the poor.

The transporters are demanding increase of freight charge. But the storage agents are not ready to pay up the new transportation rate being demanded by the Truckers’ Association. The storage agents say the State government should intervene and settle the matter. Since past one week this tussle has affected the transportation of PDS materials in the Ganjam district.

The government rate for transportation of a truck load of PDS material for a distance of 10 kilometers is Rs.380. After the hike of diesel prices, the Truck Owners’ Association has started to demand Rs.1,195 for transporting PDS goods for 10 kilometers. The storage agents are ready for an increase of 10 per cent in the transportation charges.

According to the Truckers’ Association the transportation rate for PDS goods was fixed in 2000. It has not been revised till date. But within the same period the diesel price has increased eight times allege the Berhampur Truck Owners’ Association. The truck owners accept that they were able to transport PDS goods only because the storage agents were paying up another Rs.580 per 10 kilometers to them. The storage agents are no more ready to pay more for the transportation as it would decrease the viability of their business. Both groups have left the whole issue to be settled by the administration. But this tussle over transportation has surely affected stock of subsidised rice to be distributed under Annapurna and Antodaya schemes to the poor in rural areas.

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