HYDERABAD, Aug 21 Clashes between the consumers and the atta chakki owners cannot be ruled out as there is a world of difference between the price of roller mill's flour and chakki atta as fixed by the authorities.

The Sindh chief minister has fixed the price of roller mills' flour at Rs10 per kg and, according to impeccable sources in the food department, a wheat bag of 100kg is being given to the roller flour mills at the rate of Rs900. On the other hand, the chakki owners have to pay Rs2,524 for the same quantity (100kg) plus Rs70 for cartage and labour charges.

The president of the Atta Chakki Owners Social Welfare Association Hyderabad, Haji Nawab and general secretary, Haji Mohammad Hafeez told Dawn that the authorities had fixed the wholesale rate of chakki flour at Rs30 per kg which will be sold by the retailers to the consumers at the rate of Rs31 per kg.

They said that there is a difference of Rs21 per kg between the roller mills' flour and chakki flour which could lead to clashes between the chakki owners and the consumers. To avert these clashes, they sought police protection.