Telangana takes steps to check prices of essential food items

Hyderabad: The Telangana government has initiated steps to control rising prices. It has decided to supply tur dal, onions etc. at subsidised rates by setting up special counters at Rythu Bazaars and other locations in city and districts.

The government has sought Rs 25 crore from the Centre’s National Market Intervention Fund.

The price of tur dal has increased to Rs 130 per kg in the open market making it unaffordable for commoners.

The Telangana government has decided to procure tur dal from the open market and sell it at subsidised prices at Rythu Bazaars for less than Rs 100 per kg.

Similarly, it plans to sell onions for Rs 20 a kg, which has now crossed Rs  30.

The Centre recently asked the states to rise above politics to control prices by effectively enforcing the Essential Commodities Act. The current price rise is a temporary phenomenon created by hoarders, it said.

At the conference of civil supplies ministers of states convened by the Union government last week, Union food minister Ram Vilas Pawan said, “Controlling inflation is a national issue. In a federal set up, it is the responsibility of both the Centre and states to check prices. We should not score political points on this issue.”

Civil supplies commissioner Rajat Kumar has written a letter to the Centre seeking Rs 25 crore.