Govt offers festive sops with cheap sugar,pulses

“Sugar will be sold to APL card-holders at Rs 27.50 per kg and to BPL card-holders at Rs 13.50 per kg. The APL people will get 1 kg sugar per family per month and those in the BPL category will get 1 kg per head per month,” Dasgupta said. The new proposal would require about 25,000 tonnes of sugar every month,Adhikari said.

The sops were offered considering the upcoming Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Fitr and the spiralling price rise.

The state government will have to spend Rs 500 crore for the subsidy besides the cost of rice channelled through the PDS to 6 crore APL and 2.64 crore BPL card-holders in the state,the finance minister said.

He also assured that if supply of all the commodities remained intact,the distribution would continue after the festivals.

Mustard oil will be sold at Rs 58 per kg to both BPL and APL families and each family will get 1/2 litre of mustard oil every month at Rs 29,the minister said. Masur will be sold to BPL card-holders at Rs 42 per kg and each family will be given 500 grams per month,the minister said.

The state government was also considering selling matar dal at Rs 15 per kg,he said adding that steps would soon be initiated to regulate the potato price.

Dasgupta held future trading on essential commodities by big companies responsible for the steep price rise and asked them to stop indulging in it.

Palmolin oil was already being given to BPL families in Bankura,Purulia and West Midnapore districts at Rs 32 per kg per family,Adhikari said.

Salt,tea and some other essential items were also being considered for sale through the PDS to both BPL and APL card-holders,he said.

Sweet news

* APL card-holders will pay Rs 27.50 for a kg of sugar and each family will get 1 kg per month

* BPL card-holders will buy it at Rs 13.50 a kg and will be given 1 kg per head per month