State to import pulses, palm oil

Express News Sunday, April 20, 2008

CHENNAI: THE State government on Saturday announced a slew of measures to bring down the prices of essential commodities which included importing pulses and palm oil from Myanmar and Malaysia and fixing ceilings for rice and edible oil stocks.

A committee headed by Chief Secretary LK Tripathy would be formed to monitor the prices of essential commodities as well as their availability.

Based on the reports of this committee, sufficient quantum of essential commodities would be procured and kept in stock. Decisions to this effect were taken at a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and held at the Secretariat.

The government measures have come in the wake of continued protests from main opposition AIADMK as well as DMK's allies PMK, CPI and CPM.

Ceiling for stocks for edible oils and rice to be kept by wholesale and retail dealers would be fixed soon. Besides, ceiling for stocks for edible oils, rice and other foodgrains would be fixed immediately.

As per decisions taken at the meetings,wholesale dealers are barred from keeping wheat stocks for more than 100 tonnes and 250 tonnes of pulses. Similarly, for retail dealers, the ceiling for wheat would be 3.125 tonnes and in case of pulses, the ceiling would be 6.25 tonnes.

The State Government would send a team comprising top officials of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation to Myanmar and Malaysia on April 24 to import pulses and palm oil respectively.

With a view to ensuring uninterrupted supply of wheat through PDS, the TNCSC would procure wheat from northern States like Punjab. Special teams would be formed through TNCSC and Civil Supplies CB-CID to prevent smuggling of essential commodities to other States or hoarding of these items.

For overcoming the shortage of toor dhal in the State, yellow dhal would be imported from Canada and sold through the PDS on an experimental basis.

As a long-term measure, the System Rice Intensification would be extended to all parts of the State. Besides, efforts would be taken to increase production of oil seeds.

Source