While below poverty line (BPL) families in Karnataka will get rice at Re. 1 per kg starting Wednesday, owners of fair price shops are wondering how they will store the extra grain they will now have to store.
The shopkeepers have urged officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to allow them to take the foodgrains in two instalments as they have little space to keep the stock, with the increase in allotment of foodgrains. “The shopkeepers say they can’t take all the foodgrains allotted to them at one go. They are also not allowed to keep stocks in unauthorised buildings. We have brought this to the notice of higher authorities,” said K.P. Mohan Raj, Deputy Commissioner of Hassan.
Their other demand is for a hike in commission. At present, they get a commission of Rs. 31 per quintal of rice and Rs. 29 per quintal of wheat, which they say is inadequate.
