Rejecting the West Bengal government's plea to extend by six months the deadline for implementing the Food Security Act, union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday said the scheme will have to be implemented within three months.

 

While the deadline for implementing the National Food Security Act was July 4, the food ministry Thursday announced its decision to extend the deadline by three months.

 

Paswan, who during the day held a meeting with state Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pande, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had written to the central government seeking extension of the deadline by six months.

 

"We have urged the state government to implement the Act within three months under any circumstances," said Paswan adding that Banerjee and Pande had sought extension of the deadline by six months.

 

He said that 20 states and 5 union territories are yet to implement the Act which seeks to provide highly subsidised foodgrain to the poor.

 

The Banerjee government had opposed the implementation of the act saying it will put enormous financial burden unless it gets adequate subsidy from the central government.

 

Meanwhile Pande said that he had urged Paswan to provide more funds to Bengal to strengthen the consumers affairs department besides seeking a legislation to rein in surrogate advertisement.