New Delhi: The prices of essential commodities in the capital are less than the rates in other metros in the country, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said today.

"Prices in Delhi have stabilised. Even if they have increased it is not such a kind of rise as has been made out (by the certain sections)," Dikshit told reporters.

She was speaking on the sidelines of a press conference held on the last day of the Assembly session which wrapped up today.

The chief minister referred to the reports that while consumer price based inflation rate in Delhi was 4.9 per cent, it was as high as 9.1 per cent in Kolkata, 6.3 per cent in Mumbai, 5.1 per cent in Chennai and 6.5 per cent at the national level.

Suggesting that prices are likely to rise in near future, she said after the implementation of the recommendations of the Pay Commission, the spending power of the people will increase.

However, she said, "as a government we are extremely sensitive to inflation and have taken steps to insulate the poor from its effect. Revamping the PDS is a move in this direction."

Calling the Delhi Budget 2008-09 as a "responsible" budget, Dikshit said sufficient measures have been taken to augment water and power requirement in the city.

The budget has been based on social entitlements, she said while enlisting various welfare steps like revising the funds under schemes for disadvantaged sections and the poor.
Source : PTI