PDS wheat, rice to cost more

DEHRADUN: The state APL families will have to pay extra for procuring wheat and rice from the PDS stores. In a Cabinet decision taken by the Trivendra Singh Rawat-led BJP government yesterday, approval was given for hiking the price of wheat from Rs 5 to Rs 8.60 and that of rice from Rs 9 to Rs 15.

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 27

The state APL families will have to pay extra for procuring wheat and rice from the PDS stores.

In a Cabinet decision taken by the Trivendra Singh Rawat-led BJP government yesterday, approval was given for hiking the price of wheat from Rs 5 to Rs 8.60 and that of rice from Rs 9 to Rs 15.

In all, there is going to be an increase of Rs 3.60 in the price of wheat and Rs 6 in the price of rice.

"The proposed hike will be effective from next month for 11 lakh APL card holders in the state," said Uttarakhand Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy stated this while briefing mediapersons.

Significantly, according to the State Food Security Scheme, persons whose salaries were below Rs 5 lakh annually, i.e. APL card holders, were entitled for the cheap ration. The scheme was started by the previous Harish Rawat-led Congress government. However, the new BJP government has now announced a hike in the prices of foodgrains for the APL card holders.

The Cabinet also approved the state GST bill to be tabled in the second session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly to take place from May 1. The Uttarakhand Governor has already given his approval for the two-day Assembly session.

In another important decision, the government has decided to continue with the old excise policy for another month. "The old excise policy will continue for at least a month. The Cabinet has given approval for its extension for another month," said Ramaswamy.

The Uttarakhand Government has also gone back on its earlier announcement of reducing the hours for selling liquor in the state. In the plain areas of the state, liquor will continue to be sold from 10 am to 10 pm, but in the hill areas the liquor vends will remain open from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has also given a go-ahead to the government to approach the Supreme Court against the Uttarakhand High Court ordering it to raise the ex gratia amount given to disaster victims to 50 per cent.

It is believed that the government is of the opinion that the victims of the 2013 disaster were given substantial amount as ex gratia for which several existing norms were relaxed. "The government is not in a position to enhance the ex gratia amount that has already been disbursed," said a top official.

Further, the Cabinet has also approved the setting up of a committee under Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy to look into the issues of power companies demanding the royalty money for damaged schemes in Bhatwari, Fata and Rambara during the 2013 natural disaster.