The State government will take action against those who try to inflate the price of rice, Minister for Food and Public Distribution P. Thilothaman has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating Supplyco’s Ramzan Metro Fair at the Putharikandam grounds. The Minister said that directions to take strict action had been given to the Civil Supplies and Legal Metrology departments. Legal measures would be taken too.
Inspections had been conducted in rice shops and supermarkets recently. There were eight cases in Thiruvananthapuram alone. The prices of chillies, green gram, Urad dal, gram, and dal had come down significantly.
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Rices prices had increased, but had been brought under control, the Minister said.
With drought damaging crops in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the two States had turned to Andhra Pradesh, leading to a hike in prices there. This had made its impact felt in Kerala.
The Minister said non-subsidised Jaya rice was being sold for ₹37.50 a kg. Long-grained Matta rice was being sold for ₹40.65 in Ramzan fairs.
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Slump in prices
Prices of rice and vegetables from Kuttanad had come down.
The State government was considering buying onions straight from farms to regulate prices here, Mr. Thilothaman said.
The government planned to open Supplyco outlets in all panchayats in the State. These remained to be opened in 32 panchayats. Sales centres would open in 90 places as part of the Ramzan fairs, he added.
V.S. Sivakumar, MLA, presided over the function.