Kerala - Alappuzha   

End in sight to food grain row

ALAPPUZHA: A solution to the controversy over the alleged diversion of food grains allocated to the State will soon emerge after discussions between the Centre and the State government, Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas and State Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac have said.

Talking to reporters after a closed-door meeting at the Thaneermukkom KTDC resort prior to a public function here on Sunday, Dr. Isaac and Prof. Thomas said the Centre and the State government were still firm on their respective stance on the issue.

However, both the governments were on the same truck as far as provision of adequate food grains to the people of Kerala was concerned. Discussions between the two governments would be held shortly and the stalemate would be resolved, they said.

Prof. Thomas said he had already held discussions with the Food Corporation of India authorities and would continue the talks once he returned to New Delhi. The Union Minister had earlier charged the Kerala government with diversion of rice and wheat allocated to the State for public distribution.

However, the State denied the charges, with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan stating that the Union Minister was trying to hide the Centre’s failure to shoulder its responsibility to supply food grains to the State. Dr. Isaac had accused the Centre of trying to weaken the public distribution system in the State by selling wheat in the open market.

Both Prof. Thomas and Dr. Isaac came together for a function organised to launch an aquaculture project of the Thaneermukkom panchayat near Cherthala here on Sunday. They held a closed-door meeting for over 30 minutes before talking to the media. Both shared the dais later, but kept mum on the issue.

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