For the coming season, the Centre has authorised State Govt. to lift wheat for Above Povertyline Population (APL) under the targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) at open market sale rates, which has set at Rs.830 per quintal. The open market sale rates have been set lower than the economic cost of PDS wheat. However, there is no change in the price of TPDS wheat for Below Povertyline Population (BPL) as released by correspondent. In order to liquidate burgeoning wheat stocks, Centre has taken this decision. Wheat stock on April1, 2001 is estimated to be 205 lakh tonnes, against the buffer norm of 40 lakh tonnes. Of this, 50 lakh tonnes is up for sale in the open market. The ministry said that the first preference for distribution of open sale wheat would be given to State Govt. However, the offtake of open sale wheat in the last three months has been almost nil. Even in Punjab, where about 50 lakh tonnes were allocated for open sale, the lifting has been negligible, as added. It is opined that the efforts to export wheat or go in for barter trade had not yielded many results. There had been some queries for export, but international prices being lower than domestic price of wheat, export was not conducive at this point. Since the scheme did not take off, the govt. lowered the price and extended the scheme to all zones. |
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