Shortage of pulses, edible oil at fair price shops hits people hard

There is an acute shortage of essential commodities in fair price shops being run by the State Government in different parts of Kangra district. Consumers are a harried lot for the past two months due to non-availability of pulses, edible oil and salt at the fair price shops.

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Depots were only supplied flour, rice and sugar this month. Ration card holders who visit the depots in respective areas for getting pulses and edible oil have to return empty handed with a standard reply that no supply has been received from the HP State Civil Supplies Corporation, which is the wholesale outlet of the State Government.

The ration card holders — be it Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) — of all categories have been hit hard due to the absence of these items in state-run shops.

The BPL ration card holders are forced to buy these commodities from the open market by paying relatively higher prices.

BPL and IRDP card holders said they had no source of income apart from the old-age pension to meet their daily expenses. Buying pulses and edible oil from the market had disrupted their monthly budget, they said.

A senior officer of the State Food and Supply Department told The Tribune that tenders for the procurement of pulses and edible oil were in the final stage and supplies would be restored within a week at all depots.