Kerala - Alappuzha   

‘Central decision not to hit PDS’

ALAPPUZHA: Contrary to fears of the State that the Centre’s decision to stop the curtailed allocation of rice to Above Poverty Line (APL) families in Kerala might hit the Public Distribution System (PDS) hard, rice stocks with the State Civil Supply Corporation Limited (Supplyco) indicate a smooth ride, at least for the next nine months.

The Supplyco had procured 1,70,000 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy after the recent ‘puncha’ round of cultivation, of which 68 per cent ( around 1,11,600MT) was converted into rice.

Out of this, 31,211 MT was surrendered to the Central pool for distribution to APL families till June 20.

Official sources said the State government then decided to distribute rice directly to APL families here through the PDS and “informed the Centre that no more rice would be given to the Central pool since the State would be distributing it directly”.

“It was after this that the Centre decided to stop the curtailed allocation,” a Supplyco official told The Hindu on condition of anonymity.

Indicating that its stocks had adequate rice, Supplyco passed on 8,700 MT to ration depots from July 26 to 31. This was when the monthly requirement of rice for the 70 lakh APL card holders in the State was only 7,000 MT, the official said.

Moreover, the Supplyco still has 1,01,000 MT of paddy in its granaries, out of which 68 per cent can be converted into rice. Already, 5,457 MT of rice had been made from this stock and would be ready for distribution by the first week of August.

“There is no need to panic, since our stocks at present are adequate for the next nine months. And by that time, we will have completed paddy procurement from the ‘virippu’ crop,” the official added.

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

Stories in this Section

Torrential rain affects paddy cultivation in Alappuzha again
Child helpline
‘Central decision not to hit PDS’

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu