The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Rice price rise annoys Rajasekhara Reddy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Rice price rise annoys Rajasekhara Reddy

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure at the failure of his Ministers and the bureaucracy to check the spiralling price of rice since the past few months.

“We are the largest producer of paddy and there was a record grain production in the past two years. Yet, the open market price of rice remains very high. This is strange. What have you done?” Dr. Reddy said at a meeting with the Group of Ministers (GoM) and officials to review the prices.

“When the procurement price of rice is Rs. 1,430 and Rs.1,480 a quintal for common and ‘A’ grade varieties respectively, why is the price Rs. 20 a kg and above in the open market? Bring down the price to Rs. 15 a kg for common variety and Rs. 16 for ‘A’ grade. I want this to be strictly adhered to. No more excuses,” Dr. Reddy said.

He asked Finance Minister K. Rosaiah to convene a meeting of the GoM with rice millers, traders and the Departments concerned to bring the held-over stocks with millers into the open market immediately.

He directed officials to seal the inter-State borders to prevent the movement of rice. He warned that stringent action would be initiated if millers and traders failed to cooperate.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh