HP to give 15 kg rice and 20 kg wheat per family under PDS

Shimla, Jun 24 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramesh Dhawala today said that due to reduced rice quota received from the Centre the APL, BPL and Antodaya families would be provided 15 kg rice and 20 kg wheat per family under Public Distribution System (PDS) from next month.

He said that after intervention of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal the Central Government had given 5000 tonnes additional quota of wheat to the State which would be distributed in the form of flour to APL card holders and necessary directions had been issued in this regard.

The Minister said that this additional quota would make the distribution of foodgrains satisfactory in the state and APL families would get quota as per their requirements. He said that the BPL and Antodaya families were being given full quota of foodgrains without any shortage.

Mr Dhawala further said that LPG cylinders when purchased directly from wholesale gas distributors by the consumers on their own, the hiked carriage from Rs 10 to Rs 25 would not be charged from them.

He said that, besides, additional subsidy of Rs 8 would be given to them on each cylinder. He warned the LPG dealers to invariably provide this additional subsidy of Rs 8 to consumers failing which stern action would be taken against them. At the same he also appealed to consumers to be aware of getting this subsidy.

"The State Government is making all out efforts to strengthen the PDS so that the essential commodities could be made available to the people of the state on reasonable prices," the Minister said.

UNI XC PS MMS1649