Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has proposed to set up a permanent price monitoring mechanism to look into spiralling prices of vegetables and essential commodities.
The Chief Minister said that vegetables with lowest prices in certain markets should be procured and be sold at public distribution system (PDS) centres and Rythu Bazaars. Currently, Andhra Pradesh has 80 Rythu Bazaars. He has also instructed officials to modernize Rythu Bazaars and maintain cleanliness.
Stating that the middlemen have become beneficiaries, the Chief Minister proposed linking of farmers’ Aadhar cards to their bank accounts to curtail their interference. The government also plans to restore early morning buses through which farmers can transport their produce. These buses were introduced in the previous TDP regime.
This apart, the Chief Minister said that regional cold storage facilities will be set up in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Tadepalligudem. He has also instructed officials to update the prices of vegetables online. Meanwhile, commissioner for civil supplies Sanjay Jaju has informed the Chief Minister that the prices of lentils are rising. In this regard, Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officers to procure buffer stock and release it in markets when the prices rise.
Presently there are 25 lakh gas connections to SHGs. Now, the Chief Minister has ordered concerned officials for this Aadhar seeding. Once the seeding is done, subsidy will be paid through mobile. Once the LNG Terminal is set up. Gas to cities and towns will be supplied through pipelines.
The Chief Minister has also ordered the officials to install a GPS tracker in vehicles carrying commodities under Public Distribution System to fair price shops. There are currently 267 mandal-level stock points in the state.
Chandrababu Naidu has ordered officials to carry out a pilot project on Anna Canteens. In the first phase of the project one centre will offer only breakfast, one centre breakfast and lunch and the third centre will have all the three meals of the day. Under the first phase, centres will be set up at Vijayawada Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Rajahmundry. This will be done on an experimental basis, the Chief Minister said.
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