HYDERABAD, Oct 9: The Sindh Food Department has reduced wheat quota of chakki owners of Hyderabad city though they were demanding an upward revision in weekly quota and in wholesale and retail flour prices because of hike in electricity tariff and other overheads.

Chakki owners stayed in the office of District Food Controller Hyderabad Ishaq Shah till the time it was assured that the difference in their wheat quota would be adjusted in the third week of this month.

Chakki owners reached the DFC office in the morning but allocation was received from the provincial food department when banks had closed for the day.

Chakki owners were to get 40 bags per stone but got only 33 bags. The DFC attributed the reduction in wheat quota to an error by Provincial Food Department but chakki owners strongly protested the mistake and argued as to why there was no mistake in quota of roller flour mills. They staged a sit-in outside the DFC office. “The mills have been allocated 1,750 bags per week”, said one of the owners.

Food officials admitted the mistake in the evening and assured the protesting chakki owners of adjusting it in the thrid week by supplying them 47 bags per stone which they accepted.

Chakki owners also submitted a formal request to the DFC for revision in wholesale and retail rates of wheat flour.

Vice President Atta Chakki Owners Association Hyderabad, Haneef Rajput comparing open market rate of wheat flour expressed his fears over meeting the needs of the city.

He expressed anguish over cut in wheat quota while the case was opposite for flour mills.

Some chakki owners were trying to get a copy of the allocation of additional 800 bags. The Deputy Director kept mum whereas Ashfaq Shah expressed ignorance over special quota allocation.