Amaravati: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed officials to supply essential commodities at reduced prices through the public distribution system to ease the burden of rising prices on consumers. Reviewing price control measures with Civil Supplies officials, he said the move would cost the government an additional Rs 100 crore a month, but that protecting the public was the priority.
Under the plan, ration card holders will get toor dal at Rs 100 a kg, against Rs 170 to Rs 200 in the open market. Palm oil will be supplied at Rs 125 a litre and wheat flour at Rs 25 a kg. He asked officials to begin distribution by Diwali, a step expected to benefit lakhs of poor and middle-class families.
The Chief Minister also ordered that the government’s “Dharani” brand rice, currently sold at Rythu Bazaars, be extended to municipalities and mandal headquarters through mobile vehicles. Fine variety will be sold at Rs 49 a kg and superfine at Rs 50. Officials said that following talks with rice millers and wholesale associations, millers had agreed to cap BPT steam rice at Rs 66 a kg and regular steam rice at Rs 47. He also asked for tighter surveillance at border checkposts to prevent illegal movement of paddy to neighbouring states.
On onions, officials said the government has already intervened, with sales at Rs 35 a kg at Rythu Bazaars. A further 800 metric tonnes will be made available soon, and prices are expected to stabilise once the new crop reaches the market from Kurnool.
He told officials to monitor prices continuously and step in immediately as market conditions require, reiterating that shielding people from price rises is the government’s first duty. Chief Secretary Saiprasad and Civil Supplies Secretary Kannababu were among those present at the review.