The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Restore rice quota, State tells Centre

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Saturday, May 30, 2009
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Kerala - Kochi

Restore rice quota, State tells Centre

Special Correspondent

Supplyco planning to open outlets in Dubai, Chennai
and Mumbai

KOCHI: Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran has urged the Centre to restore the rice quota of the State. He was addressing a press conference here on Friday after inaugurating a Supplyco premium store at the Nedumbasserry international airport. Stores would be opened at the airports in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode too, he said.

Welcoming the induction of Ministers from Kerala, including the Minister of State for Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution, into the Union Council of Ministers, he said the Centre should implement its promise to distribute rice at Rs.3 per kg without delay.

The godowns of the Food Corporation of India have enough stock of rice and the FCI is looking for more warehousing facility in the State, he said, hinting at the comfortable supply position.

Though the State had procured 340 lakh tonnes of paddy in 2008-09, it was grossly inadequate to meet the State’s demand.

He sought Central help to solve the shortage of LPG and kerosene in the State. Arrangements should be made to contain the price of sugar. He also sought more funds for the Civil Supplies Department.

Mr. Divakaran said as part of the market intervention scheme of the government, Supplyco was selling essential commodities at subsidised rate, which were about 30 per cent less than the open market price. The items sold in the outlets were quality ensured. Customers had the option to return the items purchased if they were not satisfied with the quality of the product.

The Minister said the Corporation had earned a profit of Rs.17.46 crore in 2007-08 and Rs.16.91 crore in 2008-09. Supplyco was contributing around Rs.100 crore to the exchequer. The sales crossed Rs.1,850 crore in 2008-09 and the target for 2009-10 was Rs.2,000 crore.

He said 250 supermarkets would be opened by converting Maveli stores. The corporation was planning to open outlets in Dubai, Chennai and Mumbai. The total number of outlets of the corporation had increased from 1,011 in 2004 to 1,285 in 2009. The number of loss-making outlets was reduced to 108 in 2009 from 546 in 2006.

The corporation had four hypermarket projects under way. The hypermarket in Ernakulam would be opened in July. Steps were on to construct hypermarkets in Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam.

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