Tripura concerned over increasing price of rice

Agartala, Apr 25: The Tripura government has expressed concern over the increasing price of rice in the state following the Centre's cut in the allocation of rice for the APL consumers through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The government has demanded allocation of its full monthly quota of 13,599 MT of above poverty line(APL) rice from the Centre. The Centre had cut down the quota from April 1 and allocated 6,910 MT.

Meanwhile, the price of rice increased in the open market by at least Rs five per kg.

To meet the situation the state government had also decided to distribute 'double' rice through PDS in 19 blocks situated in interior areas from this month.

Food Minister Gopal Das said, ''The state government is taking measures so that dishonest traders do not make a windfall out of the situation.'' The state government hoped that the Centre would allocate full quota of rice in APL considering the state's demand, Mr Das said.

He warned the dishonest traders of stern action if anyone created artificial crisis of essential commodities.

The work was on for setting up of buffer stock for rice (50,000 MT) within May, the minister stated.

UNI