Prices of food items to be slashed

Chennai, Jun 1: Come June three, the 85th birthday of DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the prices of idly, dosa, pongal and coffee sold in hotels would be slashed in the state.

The hotel owners have agreed to slash the prices of food items by five to ten per cent from June three, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy, said after a meeting with hoteliers, which was attended by PWD Minister Duraimurugan and Food Minister E V Velu.

With a view to reduce the spiralling prices and to lessen the burden on the common people, who visit hotels frequently almost on a daily basis, the government appealed to the hotel owners to reduce the prices of essential food items in hotels.

The appeal was made on May 17 when Mr Velu held a review meeting with over 50 hotel owners at the Secretariat and they gave an assurance that they would positively respond to the government's request to lower the prices of food items.

Though the Government urged them to reduce the prices by 20 per cent, the hotel owners, citing the increase in prices of essential commodities, agreed to lower down the rates by five to ten per cent.

Mr Veerasamy said the hotel owners wanted the government to supply essential commodities, especially rice, dhal and palm oil at the prices sold to the general public through fair price shops.

A decision to this effect would be taken after consulting the Chief Minister, he added.

Ruling out the possibility of free power to hotels, the minister said the government would help them in availing loans to set up wind mills to meet their power requirements.

UNI