Quota for rice for BPL not discountinued

Shri Ramesh Dhawala, Food and Civil Supplies Minister said here today that the State Government was making all possible efforts to strengthen the public distribution system in the State.

The Minister disclosed that the Government of India had totally finished the quota of 9860 metric tonnes of rice to APL families from June, 2008. However, the State Government had decided to make available 20 kilogram of rice to each APL family from its own food grains godowns in the month of June. He said that State Government had taken up the matter with Central Government at every level and efforts are on to revive this quota from July, 2008.

The Minister further informed that quota of rice fixed for BPL and Antodaya families has not been discontinued and stands as it is. He said that arrangements have been made to lift the additional quota of wheat as sanctioned by Central Government for APL families for June, 2008

Shri Dhawala revealed that though the Central Government had banned sanctioning of new gas connections from last month, however, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister strongly pleaded the case of not bringing the State under that ban and as a result the State has been exempted, hence, the process of giving new gas connections has been started. He said that gas cylinders are being made available to consumers on demand.

The Minister told that all essential commodities including pulses, edible oils, kerosene oil etc. are being distributed to consumers through the network of fair price shops functioning under Public Distribution System in the State adding that no shortage would be witnessed by the State in this regard in future also.