GunturState government will set up direct rice sale centres across Bapatla district from August 1, according to Bapatla district joint collector Bhavana Vasishta. Addressing a meeting held with rice mill owners at the Collectorate on Thursday, she said the government has decided to intervene directly to make quality rice available to consumers at affordable prices. She said rice sale centres will be opened in Bapatla, Chirala, Parchur, Cherukupalli and Vemuru mandal headquarters. She noted that super fine quality rice is currently being sold at around Rs 65 per kg in the market. To bring down prices, rice millers have been instructed to sell super fine quality rice at Rs 52 per kg, steam rice at Rs 52 per kg and raw rice at Rs 50 per kg through these centres. She instructed them that each rice card holder should be allowed to purchase only 26 kg of rice. Consumers must produce both their rice card and Aadhaar card while purchasing rice.