Lucknow, June 12 -- : In a fresh bid to overhaul the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a directive allowing the use of MLA and MP Local Area Development funds, among others, to speed up the construction of Annapurna Buildings-dedicated model structures for fair price shops.

This is the first time such a diverse basket of funding sources has been formally permitted for the initiative, as per a GO issued by principal secretary, food and civil supplies, Ranveer Prasad on June 9.

"The state has already completed 3,534 Annapurna Buildings, with another 2,000 under construction. The new target is to build 75 such structures in each district," the GO said.

Earlier provisions allowed construction through...