Chennai: Minister P. Venkataramanan said that steps have been taken to sell goods at low prices in cooperative stores in order to control price increases in Tamil Nadu.
Speaking about this, he said: Since the supply of fine variety rice from neighboring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka has decreased, the price of rice has increased in Tamil Nadu.
Of the 1 lakh metric tonnes of fine rice in the government’s stock, 25,000 metric tonnes will be sold to the public in the first phase. This rice, which will be sold at Rs. 30 per kg through Amudham and cooperative stores, can be purchased by the public up to a maximum of 5 kg. Sales will begin this weekend.
As a first step, 500 metric tons of toor dal are being procured from the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation and arrangements are being made to sell it at Rs. 130 per kg. Through Amudham stores and cooperative stores operating under the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Ponni boiled rice is being sold at Rs. 60 per kg, urad dal at Rs. 140, garlic and coriander at Rs. 240 each, and chillies at Rs. 330.
Strict action will be taken against those who hoard food items and artificially raise prices. To monitor this, district-level price monitoring committees have been formed. Stocks of rice needed for the next year, as well as stocks sufficient for the next three months of sugar, palm oil, pulses, and other items, have been ensured. He said this.