PARESH ADHIKARY

'Get tea and imported lentil pulse from MR shops'

 

COOCH BEHAR, Jan. 29: The state government is going to distribute lentils (a kind of pulse popularly known as Musur daal) through the modified ration shops round the year from now on. The required lentils are to be imported from abroad through a Central organisation named Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC). The state government handed over the necessary fund to the MMTC about two months ago to import 4,000 metric ton lentils, state food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary said here today.

 

The minister however failed to name the country from where the lentils would be imported. "It is up to the MMTC to import and we already paid them for that", he said.

 

Replying a question, Mr Adhikary said the state government was trying to maintain the public distribution system (PDS) alive throughout the year. When demand for any commodity rise the price too escalates. A section of traders used to take the opportunity to inflate their dividend. "It is hard for us to keep the supply uninterrupted through our own shops", he admitted. "In the meantime we received 200-MT pea-seeds (Matar daal) and it will be distributed through the MR shops from next month.

 

The state government is also trying to supply packaged mustard oil round the year through the PD system. "We asked the distributors to do the job against less commission. We are thinking over how we can maintain the facility without extending subsidies", the minister said. Earlier, mustard oil was sold from the MR shops for three months. Bringing of tea, exercise books, pencils and other essential commodities under the PD system is also under consideration and the responsibility will be entrusted on the state owned essential commodities corporation.

 

To make tea included in the PD system the government already held talks with different bodies of tea planters, other organisations concerned and also with the Tea Board, the minister said.

 

The food and supply minister came here today to inaugurate the first district conference of Forward Bloc dominated Pashchim Banga Ration Dokan Karmochari Union at Rabindra Bhavan. Cooch Behar MP Mr Hiten Barman and Cooch Behar (North) MLA Mr Dipak Sarkar also attended the inaugural session. []

 

PHOTO : State food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary talks with employees of MR shops outside of Rabindra Bhavan. In Cooch Behar on Thursday. – DB.