Replying to a notice for a motion moved by C Divakaran (CPI), Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government had already started fair price shops for selling vegetables, essential commodities and make available more rice to both BPL and APL card holders.
The supply of rice at Rs 16 per kilo through the outlets of Civil Supplies Corporation would continue, he said. The Consumerfed would supply 'Jaya brand rice' and "Kuruva" at Rs 22 per kilo and Rs 19 per kilo, Chandy said.
Besides the 347 vegetable outlets opened recently by various government agencies, another 100 retail shops would be set up by state-owned Consumerfed, Chandy said.
Steps also would be taken to check hoarding and stringent action taken against people who indulge in malpractices and create artificial scarcity to push up prices, Chandy added.
Divakaran alleged that government failed completely to check prices of essential commodities.
Before walkout, Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan (CPIM) said 70 per cent of people depended on the open market for their purchase and so, government should take steps for open market intervention.
