New Delhi, September 02: Acting on the directive of the Supreme Court, government today decided to release an extra 2.5 million tonnes of foodgrains to states for distribution among the poor but it will not not be free.
“As an interim ad-hoc measure, pending a final decision on the issue, the government is releasing an additional quantity of 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and rice to the states at a BPL price for next six months,” Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters after a meeting of an Empowered Group of Ministers.
The meeting of the EGoM headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee came two days after the Supreme Court slammed Pawar for calling the court’s Aug 12 on the issue as a suggestion.
–Agencies