Govt decides to take action to check price rise

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 3 (UNI) In a bid to check price rise of essential commodities, the Kerala government has decided to buy them directly from the producers through the State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) and make them available to the people through its outlets.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting called by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, in which Food and Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran and other officials concerned participated.

The meeting also decided to take strong action against traders, who were hoarding essential commodities, Mr Divakaran told a press conference here.

The District collectors had been asked to conduct raids and take stern action against those who tried to hoard essential commodities.

Mr Achuthanandan, present on the occasion, agreeing to price rise of essential commodities in the state during past few days, said it was not a huge rise when compared to the national average.

Noting that the prices in the Supplyco outlets were lower than the open market, he said the Public Distribution Systems (PDS) in the state would be strengthened.

Blaming the Centre for the price hike, he said one of the main reasons for the increase was due to the Centre's decision to cut the supply of foodgrains.

The Centre would be urged to revoke this and increase the supply of foodgrains, Mr Achuthanandan said.

He said it would be strictly monitored that the shops publish the price list and stern action initiated against those who violated this.

Mr Divakaran, while comparing the prices with the other states, said the prices of certain foodgrains in the states which produced them were much higher than that in Kerala.

He said a special Maveli super bazar would be opened for seven days in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode and the prices in the bazars would be two per cent less than the actual price.

UNI