Govt earmarks Rs 100 crore for bolstering Supplyco's onam market

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst battling a financial crisis, the government sanctioned Rs 100 crore to Supplyco on Monday. It is expected that the money will be put to good use to bolster the onam market. Supplyco is expected to ameliorate tensions with the supplier agencies by handing over Rs 650 crores after they decided not to supply goods unless the government clear their arrears.

Efforts are being made to distribute the received amount to the suppliers and get them to participate in the Onam tender.

With the distributors turning against Supplyco, items such as sugar, jaggery and lentils were unavailable for the last eight months. Among the 13 subsidized items, only black grams, Lentils, Chilies and K-Rice are available. Surekha rice, Chamba rice and peanuts are nowhere to be found. Non-subsidized items like jaggery, green peas, vada dal, mustard, cumin, onion, garlic and sambar nuts are also unavailable.

Minister GR Anil will conduct a meeting with the suppliers after his return from Delhi.

The Civil Supplies Department has written to the Finance Department requesting Rs 700 crore to settle the arrears of paddy procurement from the farmers.

On the 26th, minister Roji M John brought the Kerala Kaumudi report to the attention of the Legislative Assembly, apprising the price rise and the arrears to be paid by the government to SupplyCo. This received a favourable response from the Finance Minister.