Kondapi: With rice prices rising in the open market, the Andhra Pradesh government has launched a market intervention programme to supply BPT varieties at subsidised rates through special counters across the state.
Social welfare minister Dr Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, along with joint collector Kalpana Kumari, inaugurated a mini-mart at the secretariat premises in Kondapi on Monday and distributed rice bags to the beneficiaries.
The minister said BPT steam rice, priced at over Rs 62 per kg in the open market, would be sold at government counters for Rs 52 per kg, while BPT raw rice, retailing at around Rs 58 per kg, would be available for Rs 50 per kg.
He said ration card holders would be eligible to purchase up to 10kg rice per person every month by producing their Aadhaar cards.
In the district, four Rythu Bazaars and counters at 20 identified rice mills have been brought under the initiative. The government is monitoring stocks and sales to ensure the benefit reaches consumers.
Responding to requests for Nellore Molakalu rice, the minister directed officials to examine the feasibility of making the variety available based on demand.
Joint collector Kalpana Kumari said stocks and daily sales at the special counters would be monitored through a dedicated app to ensure transparency.
The minister also announced that the government would facilitate interest-free loans of Rs 50,000 per tobacco barn, repayable over two years, to support tobacco farmers.
On development works, Swamy said water from the Veligonda project would be supplied to the Paleru region and measures were being taken to protect the interests of those dependent on the Musi river. He said the chief minister would visit the Sangameswaram project next month.
The government, he said, was giving priority to welfare schemes, including pensions, Deepam, Annadata Sukhibhava and Talliki Vandanam, and that new houses would be allotted to eligible beneficiaries this month.
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