Kerala to tap Bengal rice

Cashing in on the political affinity between the two Left-ruled states, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had a word with his West Bengal counterpart Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee when they met in Kolkata during a meeting of the CPI-M politburo earlier this week.

A five-member official team headed by Food Secretary K R Jyothilal would be going to Kolkata on May 5 to finalise the details of the procurement of the required quantum of rice and its transportation to the state urgently, Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran said.

 

He told reporters that Kerala would also explore the possibilities of a permanent tie-up with West Bengal to ensure steady supply of rice.

With rice production in Kerala coming down drastically, the state has been dependent on major rice-producing states like Andhra Pradesh for its staple need for the last few decades. The situation became all the more severe this year with further fall in domestic production and a sharp cut in its PDS quota by the Centre.

The shortfall in arrivals from Andhra Pradesh this season due to additional-levy procurement by government agencies there also came as a blow to the state.