Date:09/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070953880400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Punjab Food Minister meets Velu

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Punjab Food and Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon met Food Minister E.V. Velu to hold discussions on Tamil Nadu sourcing part of its wheat requirements from Punjab.

Tamil Nadu had earlier written to Punjab expressing interest in buying wheat from that State if it was made available at a competitive price. Following this, the Punjab government sent its representative for talks with the Tamil Nadu government.

The State gets about 3,500 tonnes of wheat from the Centre each month to be distributed through the public distribution system. After Mr. Velu met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in New Delhi last month and requested allocation of additional wheat for the State, another 5,000 tonnes is being given each month. This will be available for the next six months. The entire quantity is being distributed through ration shops.

Apart from this, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has announced making available rava and maida in ration shops as part of a special initiative to keep the prices of essential commodities under control. It is for this scheme that additional wheat is required.

“The Chief Minister wants us to ensure that there is no scarcity of wheat products in the ration shops,” said Mr. Velu, when asked about the discussions. He said the Civil Supplies Corporation had floated tenders to procure the required quantity of wheat from the open market. But, the government felt that Punjab might offer a competitive price, far lower than that of the open market bidders.

“We want about 5,000 tonnes per month. We have quoted a price too. The Punjab Food Minister said he would discuss it with his Chief Minister and get back to us,” Mr. Velu said.