The Rs 90-crore food subsidy scheme, designed to provide five essential items to the state's 14 lakh-plus ration card-holders at almost half the market price, seems to have run into rough weather. With prices of pulses taking an unprecedented jump in the past few days, the BJP government has pruned down the list of subsided items supplied through PDS outlets. "Things are not in our hands. If the Centre brings the prices down, we will have no problem in implementing the scheme,' said Minister for Food and Supplies Ramesh Dhawala. Now, instead of three dals, only two dals will be available. Till a month back, malka dal, which was part of the subsidy package, was being supplied at Rs 20 per kg. But after the price rise, the bulk suppliers backed out. "The Cabinet in its last meeting on April 11 discussed the issue and decided to supply only two dals - urad and chana. Besides, instead of both refined oil and mustard oil, ration card holders will have to restrict their choice to one item,' a senior Food and Supply Department official confirmed. He said with a provision of Rs 90 crore, if the government supplied all the items, the money would last only six months, making the scheme non-viable. When contacted, B.K. Aggarwal, Secretary to the CM, said, "Since only two dals will be supplied, the consumers will get only two kg of ration quota instead of three. Similarly, only one litre of oil will be available. Iodised salt, however, will continue to be available.' Later this evening, Aggarwal, who is also Secretary (Food and Supplies), held a meeting with senior officials and directed them to ensure adequate supply of essential commodities, besides sufficient storage of edible material in the godowns. He has also asked for inspections of fair price shops and cancellation of all bogus ration cards . The government has also issued a notification under the Himachal Pradesh Trade Article (Licensing and Control) Order, 1981, to check and monitor hoarding by traders. If any trader stores 60 or more quintals of wheat or wheat products, 30 or more quintals of pulses (whole or split) and 20 or more quintals of iodised salt, he will be required to get a trading licence.