Government to release 3,65,000 tonnes of wheat to states

New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) In an effort to check the rise in open market prices, the Government today decided to release a total of 3,65,000 tonnes of wheat to states for sale under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) during this month and March.

The wheat will be released by the FCI to the state governments at the price of Rs 986.06 per quintal for distribution to consumers through State Level Institutions/Corporations or Agencies whose work shall be directly supervised by the state government so that the benefit of lower subsidised prices can be passed on to consumers, an official statement said here tonight.

The Institutions/Corporations/Agencies should distribute the wheat to consumers on a no profit no loss basis and only reasonable handling/transportation cost should be added to the above price, it said.

In case, the state government want to distribute atta to the consumers, reasonable conversion charges may be added to the above price, it said.

Maharashtra and Karnataka will get 60,000 tonnes each, Kerala 25,000 tonnes whereas Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat each will receive 20,000 tonnes respectively.

The country's capital Delhi will receive 30,000 tonnes.

Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir will receive 15,000 tonnes each, whereas Punjab and Haryana will get 10,000 tonnes each.

Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand will have 5,000 tonnes each.

Asom will receive 6,000 tonnes and Tripura and Mizoram 1,000 tonnes each.

Manipur, Nagaland Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh will receive 500 tonnes of wheat each, the statement added.

UNI