AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh State Civil Supplies Commissioner Kona Sashidhar said an additional burden of Rs 2,100 Crore would be borne by the State government in the wake of the Central government’s order to distribute free rice starting from the month of July to November this year under the Pradhana Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme for poor families to tide through the pandemic. "The quality of Sortex rice stocks distributed by the state government through the public distribution system is not adequate and the Centre was informed about this, as per a statement released by the Government on Thursday.

The Center has directed that it should be procured and distributed from the Food Corporation of India (FCI). However, the Commissioner clarified that simultaneous door delivery of Sortex rice and non-Sortex rice from FCI is not possible. He said door-to-door delivery of Sortex rice, sugar, and pulses provided by the State government through the public distribution system will continue as usual from July 1. Also, non-sortex rice purchased through FCI will be distributed free of cost at ration shops from the 15th of the month. The supply will continue till November.

It was further clarified that no distribution of goods will take place at ration shops after the completion of the distribution of free rice under the PMGKAY scheme.

From April to November last year, the AP State government distributed rice and other pulses free of cost through PMGKAY and public distribution schemes at a cost of Rs 3,100 Crore. In May and June this year, the Center had directed the State government to provide free rice at the rate of 5 kg per person on Food Security Act cards. The state has spent close to Rs 789 crore on this.

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