AP CM asks officials to bring down prices in open market

Hyderabad, July 2 (UNI) Observing that the price of rice in the open market was showing an upward trend, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today asked the District Collectors to intervene and ensure its availablity at an affordable price.

With the price of rice ruling high in the open market, the Chief Minister, during the ongoing two-day Collectors conference, asked all the District Collectors to organise sale of rice by millers at reduced rates through special counters in Rythu Bazaars and mill points.

They were asked to provide each family 25 kg rice at the rate of Rs 14 per kg in the case of common variety and at the rate of Rs 16 in the case of Grade-A variety, official sources said.

Attaching highest priority for effective implementation of the Rs two per kg rice scheme to cater to 1.88 crore families, Dr Reddy asked them to closely track movement of rice-laden vehicles going out of and coming into the State to curb illegal transport of rice meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS). He wanted them to constitute revenue division-level integrated flying squads to maintain vigil on diversion and misuse of rice.

Orders were issued for allocating 14,285 tonnes of palm oil and 15,000 tonnes of red gram for distribution to Below Poverty Line card holders through the PDS in view of the rising trend in the prices of edible oil and pulses, they said.

The District Collectors were asked to closely monitor movement and distribution of palm oil and red gram and prevent diversion of the commodities to the black market.

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