Ranchi, Nov. 24: Putting an end to speculation, the cabinet today resolved to “seal” all outstation lottery businesses in Jharkhand.

Cabinet secretary P.K. Jajoria stressed that lottery businesses sponsored by other states would not be allowed in Jharkhand.

The Shibu Soren government came under fire after a Sikkim government-sponsored company claimed that it had secured the government’s permission for running a lottery trade in the state and then invited applications for appointment of stockists and distributors.

There was a stalemate for a while, as the chief minister and the finance minister stressed that no company was granted permission to carry out business in Jharkhand. On the other hand, the company insisted that it had completed selection of distributors and stockists in the state.

Though it has banned all outstation lottery businesses, the government is yet to take action against the company for “misleading” the public through newspaper adverts.

So far, the cabinet has sealed the lottery business in areas under its jurisdiction.

The cabinet today also approved withdrawal of Rs 5.42 crore from the contingency fund to supply 35-kg foodgrain, free of cost, every month to primitive tribes. There are over 43,000 primitive tribal households in the state. The families would be supplied rice and wheat under the Chief Minister’s Food Security Scheme.

Another Rs 30 crore would be withdrawn from the same fund to supply grain to BPL families at rates approved under Antyodaya Scheme to keep Soren’s promise of providing wheat at a rate of Rs 2 per kilogram and rice at the rate of Rs 3 per kilogram — made on Diwali eve. The proposal involves an additional expense to the tune of Rs 75 crore per annum.

For the first instalment, Rs 30 crore will be taken out from the contingency fund. Provision for balance amounts will be made in the supplementary budget.