SHILLONG: The delay of almost a year on the part of the State Government to bear the cost of subsidized sugar even after the Centre’s direction in this regard has forced the people of the State to buy this item of daily use at higher rates.
At present, people have no choice but to buy sugar from the open market at a price ranging between Rs 35 and Rs 40 per kilogram.
An official source on Wednesday said that it will take more time for the State Government to distribute sugar at a subsidized rate as the Government is still working on the modalities of procuring sugar by itself.
Earlier, sugar was sent directly by the Centre to the godowns of the respective states, but now the State Government has to procure it with a lesser central subsidy of Rs. 18.50 per kilogram.
An official with the Food and Civil Supplies department said that with the Centre limiting the subsidy to Rs. 18.50 per kg, the State Government has to provide further subsidy from its own funds.
“We are in the process of procuring sugar and tender was called to make available the required quantity of sugar,” the official added.
The quantity of subsidized sugar supplied to the State earlier was 1704 metric tons per month.
