THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With only a week left for Onam preparations, the finance department has not intervened in the market. Supplyco is tired of extending the deadline for payments. If one goes to Maveli stores with a ration card, they are welcomed by empty racks. There are no subsidized items available in these stores.

Minister GR Anil's reply was weak when the Opposition raised this issue during an adjournment motion in the Assembly yesterday.

Out of the 13 subsidy items at the Supplyco outlet in Pazhavangadi, only coriander powder, chickpea and coconut oil is available.

At SupplyCo in Nedumangad, the minister's constituency, the situation isn't much different. Seven varieties of rice, including matta, were missing till yesterday afternoon. Three products were delivered after the Minister told the Assembly that Supplyco stores have 13 items. Cheaper matta rice, chillies, and peas were still not available.

The outlet in Kollam town does not even have subsidized rice. Matta, Jaya, Kuruva and raw rice are all but over. The outlet near Supplyco headquarters in Kochi has only coconut oil, black gram and Jaya rice. Subsidized chickpeas are sold as non-subsidized items. 75 for half a kilo of lentils.

Even the allotted amount left unpaid

Rs 180 crores for paddy procurement and 70 crores for market intervention has been sanctioned by the finance department. This amount did not come into the account of Supplyco except in the treasury. Even this money isn't enough to intervene in the Onam market.