Price Rise: TN Govt distributes pulses, oil through PDS

Chennai, Apr 14 (UNI) In a bid to control the price rise of essential commodities, the Tamil Nadu Government today launched distribution of cooking oil and pulses through Public Distribution System (PDS) on the occasion of Tamil New Year.

The scheme was launched in the Chennai city in first phase and would be extended to other districts from the first week of May.

Under the scheme, items like toor dal, urad dal, palm oil, maida and sooji would be distributed through fair price shops to family card holders at a price cheaper than at the open market.

An official release here said toor dal would be sold at Rs 34 per kg, urad dal at Rs 40 per kg, palm oil at Rs 40 per litre, sooji at Rs 17 per kg and maida at Rs 16 per kg.

State Food and Cooperative Minister E V Velu paid surprise visits to fair price shops at various places in the city and inspected the distribution of essential commodities.

It may recalled that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had urged the Centre to suspend online trading of all essential commodities to contain the steep rise in their prices.

UNI