Blaming the UPA government’s economic policies for the spiralling prices of essential commodities, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa said her government would provide urad dal, gram dal and palmoil at subsidised rates for the next six months.
The rice procured from West Bengal would be supplied through the public distribution system (PDS) at a subsidised price of Rs25 per kilo.
The chief minister, who reviewed the price situation with senior ministers and officials Wednesday, said she had issued orders to supply 1 kg of Swarna and IR 36 brand of rice at subsidised rate of Rs25 respectively and Minikit, at Rs31 per kg.
The government is supplying 14,000 metric tonnes gram dal to consumers through PDS every month. About 2,000 mt were given to the state government by the Centre at subsidised rates.
However, the Centre stopped providing subsidised gram dal as of June 30, 2012. About 10,000 mt of urad dal was given to consumers every month but the Centre does not supply them at subsidised rates, she pointed out.
The Centre was giving palmoil at a subsidised cost of Rs52.65 per litre (against the market price of Rs66.30) to the state government, which subsidises it further to Rs27.65.
Ms Jayalalithaa hoped this initiative would enable the people to buy essentials at affordable rates, besides keeping prices under control.