AP largely unaffected by price rise contends YSR

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy, who is here to attend the Congress Chief Minister's Conference on price rise, today contended that the price rise was a ''north-Indian phenomenon'' and people of his state were by and large unaffected.

Speaking to reporters, Dr Reddy said prices of rice in AP were well under control and the production, procurement and distribution were all under normal parameters. The Public Distribution System in AP was strong, covering 85 per cent of the population and the rice was supplied at Rs 6.40 for the under privileged class. The prices of edible oil, sugar and onion had remained stable for the last two years.

However there was a steep rise in the prices of green gram and black gram.

Implying that the price rise is confined to wheat eating areas, Dr Reddy suggested that the government should give a subsidy of Rs 10 per kg as a short term measure to reduce the price rise effect on the common man. He also wanted the government to increase the Minimum Support Price for the pulses to Rs 1,750 to encourage farmers to grow pulses, which had been stagnant for decades and the productivity was low.

Steps have to be made to reduce import costs and make the pulses production remunerative and to reach the consumer at a reasonable cost. The profiteering by the traders will have to be curbed, he said.

He said during the CMs meeting, he had suggested that the the Centre should amend the relevant clauses governing the Essential Commodities to make it mandatory for the traders to display the stocks held by them to the public. "We are not against movement of gricultural produce but the trader will have to display the stock he holds", he said.

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