Hubbali: Indirectly defending the price rise, especially of food grains, Union Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said on Monday that the rise in the prices of agricultural produce like vegetables and pulses was a good thing, if its benefits are reaching the farmers.

He told mediapersons here that if prices are increasing due to illegal hoarding and other such acts of middlemen, it is the sole responsibility of state governments to check such practices. When asked about rising prices, he said, “Increase in prices of agricultural products is often seen from the urbanites’ angle, but nothing much is said when prices of steel or cement go up.”

The Union government has taken the required steps to protect the interests of farmers and to increase their income, but the state governments should contribute too in this task, he said.

Karnataka is among the four states which have completed all sanctioned works under the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). In the next phase, states which have completed the PMGSY works would be given additional weightage in sanctioning more length of road construction and widening and strengthening of existing roads, the minister said.

“I have asked state RDPR Minister H K Patil to submit an additional proposal under the PMGSY, if more road works are to be taken up. There is no shortage of funds. Even for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Centre has provided funds as per the demand of the state government,” he said.