Vegetables packed in packets of 500 gms and one kg will be made available at 200 centres in the metropolis, including ration shops, milk booths, outlets of the cooperative marketing federations, Sahakari Bhandar and Apna Bazar. ``If the scheme is successful, it should not be difficult to provide vegetables at a rate 30 to 40 per cent lower than the existing market rates,'' the Chief Minister stated.

``At a point when vegetables prices have touched an all time high due to interference of commission agents, the government cannot be a silent spectator. Therefore, we have decided tostep in for the cause of the common man,'' he claimed.

The Agriculture Produce Market Committee has been entrusted the task of establishing contact with vegetable producers at the village or district level. ``APMC will procure the vegetables directly from the producers, pack them and make them available at the decided centres,'' said Joshi.

The Chief Minister observed that the exorbitant vegetable prices could be brought down and within the grasp of the common buyer, ``During our series of meetings with officials of the cooperation department and leading vegetable producers, actual vegetables prices were much lower than those prevailing in the market. It appears that a section of the commission agents are deciding high prices and in the process, the consumer is at the receiving end. We cannot tolerate such a situation and therefore we decided to step in as a responsible government,'' asserted the C M.

More largesse

Chief Minister Manohar Joshi announced that henceforth, autorickshaw drivers inMumbai will not be arrested for violation of traffic regulations. Unlike other traffic violators whose licences are confiscated and a fine recovered, autorickshaw drivers are arrested and tried for the same offence. Autorickshaw unions had demanded a change in this practice while discussing the fare hike issue with the Chief Minister on Tuesday.

Joshi assured them that relevant orders would be issued to the state and city police so that rickshaw drivers were no longer detained for traffic violation. Instead, like all other offenders, their licences will be confiscated and they will be made to pay a fine. Joshi also directed transport minister Diwakar Raote to hold a meeting with rickshaw drivers on this issue on Saturday. Meanwhile, the morcha of bargirls to Joshi's official residence, Sahyadri, was called off today following an assurance that their demands to extend their working hours to 12.30 am will be considered favourably. As per the Shops and Establishments Act, bar girls are allowed to work onlytill 8.30 pm.