Check price hike of essential commodities: AP CM to officials

Hyderabad, Jun 16 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today directed the Civil Supplies Department to ensure that the prices of essential commodities did not rise.

While reviewing the general price situation and progress of the Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme with Ministers and officials concerned at the Secretariat, he said ''the prices of essential commodities, particularly rice, should not be allowed to go up.'' ''We have enough production. Hence, there is no problem. See that we have enough stocks and availability. Rice should be made freely available in the market,'' he told the officials.

Dr Reddy directed them to have discussions with the traders and millers and strengthen the border check-posts to regulate movement of essential commodities within the state.

He wanted the departments concerned to build buffer stocks, enabling market intervention, whenever needed.

On complaints of poor quality rice allegedly being distributed in some places, Dr Reddy said this should not be allowed and the quality of the rice should be maintained at any cost. Stringent action was being taken against erring traders and blackmarketers, he added.

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