Motihari, Jan. 18: Iodised salt would soon be available at reasonable prices in public distribution system (PDS) shops.

Rajendra Kumar Mishra, the state general secretary of non-government organisation Iodised Namak Aapurtikarta Kalyan Sangh, Bihar, today told The Telegraph: “In a recent letter, the state food and consumer protection department joint secretary Jai Shankar Prasad Yadav has directed the district magistrates of Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sheohar, Sitamarhi and East and West Champaran to comply with the state government’s order to sell iodised salt at reasonable rates at PDS shops.”

At present, residents have to shell out Rs 9 to Rs 10 to buy 1kg iodised salt. At PDS shops, the price would be much less, said Mishra.

The district distribution officer, Ajay Pandey, told The Telegraph that the PDS shops would sell iodised salt from March this year.

He added that it was essential to sell iodised salt from PDS shops as the iodine content in salt has come down alarmingly in Bihar.

“The national standard of iodine content in salt is about 76 per cent. In Bihar, it has come down to an alarming 68 per cent,” said Mishra.

Sources said adulterated salt of popular brands are also sold in markets. “Buying branded salt doesn’t mean we are consuming iodised salt,” said a resident of Motihari.

Lack of iodine in salt causes various diseases, including goitre.

Dr Ashutosh Mishra, a medical practitioner, said: “Goitre is caused by lack of iodine content in salt, food or fruits. It leads to swelling of the neck because of the excess secretion from the thyroid gland. Till the 1970s, goitre was common in Champaran because salt sold in the local market had no iodine whatsoever. Now, the condition has improved slightly. However, lack of iodine and excess of iron is still a cause of diseases in the entire Terai region.”

A letter issued by the health secretary-cum-executive director of State Health Society, Bihar, on December 1, Sanjay Kumar, stated that iodised salt would be distributed through PDS shops.