Govt. to amend Essential Commodities Act

Hyderabad, Apr 11 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said his government was contemplating amendments to the Essential Commodities Act, providing for deterrent punishments for violation.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the Act was watered down during the TDP regime when the NDA was in power at the Centre.

He said the state government's main objective was to check hoarding and blackmarketing of essential commodities like oils, pulses, chillies and tamarind.

Dr Reddy said the required measures had already been taken to control the prices of essential commodities. Thorough monitoring would be undertaken by the Vigilance and Enforcement departments to take action against hoarders and blackmarketeers.

The state government would take all necessary steps to distribute kerosene through the fair price shops in a systematic manner.

The Chief Minister said the government would also provide edible oils and red gram dal on subsidised prices through such shops within two months.

He also said the government proposed to issue separate ration cards for the beneficiaries of the Rajiv Aarogyasri Health Scheme.

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