Agartala, August 27 (TIWN): The Tripura government will implement the Food Security Act from September 1 this year if everything falls in track, said Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Bhanulal Sahaon Thursday at the civil secretariat.

Talking to the reporters here at the civil secretariat after the cabinet meeting he informed that 90 per cent work has already been completed while if the rest 10 per cent technical works are completed than the act can be launched in state from the first of September this year.

The BPL holder families who were brought under the coverage of the act would get the ration price with a price of Rs. 2 per kg whereas the APL holders will get the same with Rs. 13 per kg., Saha said.

He said, “With the completion of the remaining work, the NFSA will be implemented in Tripura from September as per the State government’s decision.”

Saha also said that creating infrastructure, and necessary computerisation of entire TPDS, cost around Rs.11 crore, with the Central government providing 90 per cent of the expenses.

The Union government had asked all states and union territories to implement the NFSA from September.

But, according to a Central government report, the NFSA has been implemented by only 13 States and two Union Territories.

Under the NFSA, which came into force on July 5, 2013, each eligible person would get 5 kg food grain a month at Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Re.1 per kg for coarse cereals through the State governments.

The NFSA entitles up to 75 percent of the rural population and up to 50 per cent of the urban population to receive food grain at subsidised prices.

The NFSA was passed by parliament when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government was in power at the Centre. The deadline for implementing the same has been extended thrice.