Mangaluru: With price of an essential commodity like toor dal skyrocketing, the department of food and civil supplies has decided to crack the whip to make sure that the staple pulses of the state remain well within the reach of the people.

Addressing a news conference, Minister for Food and Civil supplies U T Khader said that the department will start selling toor dal in about 200 APMC yards across the state from Friday, July 8.

He said that the sale price has been fixed at Rs 130 per kg of toor dal irrespective of its quality. “With 50 sales points identified in Bengaluru alone by the department the rest is spread over Karnataka” he said adding that the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry helped in bringing the toor dal growers to the discussions table, enabling the department to facilitate this arrangement.

Khader said, after the meeting with the FKCCI and the toor dal growers it has been decided to cap the price at Rs.130 for the quarter. The price will automatically come down, with the fresh toor dal crop expected to arrive at the market.

“Yield of toor dal crop is expected to be good this year, and this is expected to bring down the price. The department will take steps to ensure no retailer will sell the pulse higher than Rs 135/kg,” he said.

Secretary of Food and Civil supplies has issued, notice o the Deputy Director Mysuru to stop supply ration to the beneficiary, who had failed to link the aadhaar card number with BPL card on his instructions. Only 10% of the BPL cards are left to be linked with aadhaar card numbers. The supply of ration should not stop until this month end, he said.

Coming to the distribution of ration card, he said the officials concerned will have to take a liberal stand in genuine cases after proper verification, without insisting on Aadhaar card. Steps will be taken to weed out ghost ration cards.