17/06/2008 (Andhra Cafe.com), Hyderabad - Union Agriculture Minister Sarad Pawar will launch Andhra Pradesh government’s subsidised palm oil distribution scheme in the state on July 14, most likely from Chevella in Ranga Reddy district.

The state government is making all arrangements to position the stocks of palm oil and red gram that will be supplied through fairprice shops from July 15. At a review meeting on Monday, expressing concern over the spiralling prices of essential commodities, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister  Y S Rajasekhara Reddy asked the civil supplies department to control prices and ensure it does not go up any further.

Chief Minister wants the price of rice to be under check since there was enough production and stocks are full. He has also asked officials to take steps to prevent rice smuggling.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that the civil supplies department conducted regular checks every month besides monitoring the implementation of the Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme implementation.  So far, 23 cases under the Indian Penal Code and Essential Commodities Act and two cases under Preventive Detention Act have been registered.