Date:03/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/03/stories/2008040360500800.htm

Tamil Nadu

Special PDS to be in force till July 31

Special Correspondent

“If required Cabinet will decide on extending it: Anbazhagan

CHENNAI: The special public distribution system, selling commodities including toor dhal, black gram and palm oil, will be in force till July 31. If required, the Cabinet will take a decision on extending it further, Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan told the Assembly on Wednesday.

Replying to the debate on the budget, Mr. Anbazhagan said under the special PDS, the commodities were sold at rates less than the market prices. Toor dhal was being supplied at Rs.32 a kg (against the market rate of Rs.42); black gram Rs.36 a kg (Rs.42) and palm oil Rs.40 a kilo (Rs.55-60).

It was launched in April last. As on February 29, about 18,300 tonnes of black gram, 10,683 tonnes of toor dhal and 2.1 crore litres of palm oil were sold through the system.

Referring to the issue of rising prices of essential commodities, the Finance Minister said Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, on March 11, wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling for the reduction in import duties of crude and refined edible oil. Subsequently, the 27.5 per cent duty on refined edible oil was reduced to 7.5 per cent. Earlier, the duty was in the range of 50 to 55 per cent.

On the farm sector’s growth rate, he said it was proposed to achieve four per cent growth rate in the sector during the 11th Plan period. During 2007-2008, the provisional figure of growth rate was 6.51 per cent. The State’s overall growth rate was 8.29 per cent against the targeted 9 per cent.

Responding to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s criticism that the government had not done much in respect of the farmer protection scheme, Mr. Anbazhagan said in addition to the allocation of Rs.152 crore for the agricultural labourers and farmers social security and welfare scheme this year, farmers’ families would get maternity assistance to the tune of Rs.125 crore.

Metro Rail project

On the Chennai Metro Rail project, he said bids for a detailed engineering report had been floated. Last year, the State government provided share capital assistance of Rs.50 crore to the special purpose vehicle and this year, Rs.300 crore. After securing the approval of the Centre and Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the project would be taken up.