Dearth of sugar frustrates MR dealers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 4 SEPT: Despite non-availability of sugar, the finance minister Mr Asim Dasgupta’s televised speech assuring distribution of the ingredient through the public distribution system (PDS) has caused consternation among the MR dealers of Malda.

Facing the consumers’ grievances, the MR dealers collectively said: “Mr Dasgupta is announcing distribution of sugar to the APL and BPL beneficiaries through the PDS but he is probably not aware that Malda district has not received sugar for distribution to the BPL beneficiaries since March.”

“We are not in a position to distribute sugar to the BPL card holders since March 2009 due lack of stock in Malda. But after watching the finance minister on television, the people are blaming us and alleging that we have deprived them,” said Mr Atul Das, assistant secretary of Malda District MR Dealers’ Association.

Speaking on the subject, the sub-divisional controller of food and supplies Mr Phulchand Rajak said: “We cannot supply sugar to the dealers because the Essential Commodities Supply Corporation (ECSC) has not supplied sugar since March.”

Admitting the problem, the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “We had drawn the attention of the higher authorities including the ECSC for sugar. The district has not received sugar since the month of May. We have, however, been informed sugar would be supplied before the Pujas.” The state finance minister's statement on sugar has also drawn flak from the consumers. A consumer, Mr Dilip Saha while standing in queue at a ration shop at Air View Complex in Malda, said: “We are not getting commodities from the ration shops as declared by the finance minister.”

The BPL cardholders are getting rice at Rs 2 per kg. Wheat and kerosene are being distributed for APL and BPL through the PDS. But there is no sugar, pulses and other items as announced by the government, in the MR shops. The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “We have asked the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce to reduce the rate of potato but the MMCC said it would not be able to sell potato below Rs 18 per kg.