By Express News Service
BENGALURU: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundurao has decided to write to his counterparts in other states against the Central government’s “unilateral decision” to cut the state’s kerosene quota and buy only PDS foodgrains.
He told reporters on Monday that the Centre has cut Karnataka’s quota of kerosene by 3,000 kilo litres from 43,000 kilo litres per month. This has forced the government to allot just four litres for each BPL card holder instead of the normal quota of five litres, he said. He said the Centre’s decision to buy only those foodgrains distributed through the public distribution system has forced the state to rethink the minimum support price for maize.
No Anna Canteen Dinesh said the government has dropped the plan to set up ‘Anna Canteens’ because of the “changing policies of the Centre”.
On Sunday, state Planning Board chairman C M Ibrahim had said the government was considering setting up Anna Canteens on the lines of the ‘Amma Canteens’ in Tamil Nadu to provide quality food at cheap rates. But Dinesh said the state government cannot run the scheme without support from the Centre.
No Aadhaar for Gas: The state government has again reiterated that Aadhaar card is not mandatory to get a new LPG connection or retain the existing ones.
Dinesh said he has called a meeting of LPG distributors in the city on Saturday to clarify the state’s stand on the issue.
He also said photos of BPL cardholders should be displayed in all fair price shops. On the hiring of 431 food inspectors, the minister said the Finance Department has given clearance to recruit 181 inspectors this year.