Govt steps in to check price rise

Hyderabad, July 11 (UNI) With Congress President Sonia Gandhi attributing the defeat of the party to price rise in the last round of Assembly elections in some states, the Andhra Pradesh Government has stepped in to control the prices of essential commodities.

Civil Supplies Minister K Venkata Krishna Reddy for the second time, visited the Mehdipatnam 'Rythu Bazaar' today, to distribute the essential commodities including onions to a large number of women, as a part of his attempt to bring the price situation under control.

The Minister himself sold onions for just Rs seven per kg as against Rs 14 in the open market, much to the satisfaction of womenfolk.

He also distributed rice at Rs 10 per kg as part of the efforts to stabilise its price in the open market.

As per the instruction of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Mr Reddy, along with Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy and Marketing Minister M Mareppa were reviewing the situation every Monday and taking steps to procure additional quantity of foodgrains, pulses, edible oil and vegetables from within and outside the state to keep the price situation under control, the Civil Supplies Minister told reporters after interacting with people at the 'Ryuthu Bazaar'.

The Civil Supplies department had intervened when onion price went up beyond Rs 10 per kg, Redgram beyond Rs 30 per kg and tomatoes beyond Rs 12 per kg.

The State Oilfed was making available 850 tonnes of palmolein for distribution at Rs 46.50 per litre through 'Rythu Bazaars' and Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets, he said.

The District collectors were directed to convene meetings every Saturday with officials of departments concerned and determined and reviewed price situation and supply position of commodities including rice, and tamarind.

UNI