AP CM announces special cell to monitor price

Hyderabad, Feb 25 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today announced setting up of special cell to monitor prices of essential commodities.

Deciding to set up an appropriate mechanism for intensive monitoring of prices of essential commodities to promptly detect any short-term fluctuations and to take the necesary corrective steps to control the prices, the Government said a team of top officials would review the prices and other related issues on a regular basis.

Dr Reddy's seven-point focus was to form a special cell for closely monitoring the PDS and prices of essential commodities to take effective steps as and when required.

The Commercial Tax Department had been asked to collect the details of all dealers and ensure the returns were filed under Value Added Tax(VAT) promptly. Dealers evading VAT would be dealt with severe punishment.

Besides, the Chief Minister also instructed keeping a track of procurement, sale and distribution of essential commodities to monitor the implementation of Rythu Bandhu Pathakam, which was being misused by traders and owners of godowns-cold storage units.

Dr Reddy held a review meeting with officials on the price situation particularly in the light of the Prime Minister's message to the Chief Ministers seeking interventions to control price rise and for ensuring adequate supplies of esential commodities to the consumer.

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