All shopkeepers charging exorbitant prices for eatables and bottled water sold at malls and multiplexes will face action, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies D.N. Jeevaraj has warned.
Addressing presspersons here on Friday, he said that the department has ordered a probe into the violation of MRP on food and beverages in multiplexes of Bangalore.
The department has ordered an inquiry following a complaint submitted by MLAs and members of the BJP that the prices of food items in multiplexes were unreasonably high.
Mr. Jeevaraj said that the officials of the Department of Legal Metrology are looking into the issue.
He said that it has also come to his notice that hotels and restaurants are selling food at higher prices taking advantage of the rise in the price of rice.
Rs. 2 a kg rice
The Minister announced that Rs. 2 per kg rice programme will be launched on March 21. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, Deputy Chief Ministers K.S. Eshwarappa and R. Ashok will launch the programme in Koppa near Sringeri in Chikmagalur.
About 98 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) cardholders can avail themselves of the benefit from that day itself across the State, he said.
Mr. Jeevraj said that the quantum of rice sold at Rs. 10 a kg for above poverty line card holders would be raised from nine kg per month to 13 kg in the wake of rise in the prices.
New applications
The Minister said that the department had received 7,337 new applications seeking ration cards.
To contain the misuse of the scheme, the department had asked the applicants to add the introducer’s name and his card number.
