NAWABSHAH, Jan 13: Wheat flour was not available at Utility Stores in the city and was being sold at the rate of Rs22 to Rs25 per kilogramme in the open market throughout the district as Rangers started monitoring flour supply on Sunday.

On Friday, the administration made an announcement after a meeting with the food department officials and owners of flour mills that flour would be available at the rate of Rs17 per kg from Saturday but failed to turn the announcement into a reality.

The revenue authorities set up a stall on Kutchehry Road on Saturday to sell some 100 bags at the rate of Rs16 kg but, the stall was closed after an hour amid heavy rush of buyers.

Our Sanghar correspondent adds: The Rangers have taken control of the wheat supply to flour mills and chakkis and they will also supervise the distribution at government fixed price of Rs17 per kg.

This was decided at a meeting held at DCO office here on Sunday.

The step was taken on the complaints that the flour mills and chakki owners get wheat at subsidised rate of Rs1,225 per 100 kg bag and sell it in black market at a higher rate of Rs1,950 to Rs2,000.