State forum wants curbs on hoarding of imported wheat
The Congress forum on consumer protection, markets and industry has claimed that the restrictions imposed by the Centre and state governments on hoarding of wheat are not being applied to imported wheat.
By TNN |
MUMBAI: The Congress forum on consumer protection, markets and industry has claimed that the restrictions imposed by the Centre and state governments on hoarding of wheat are not being applied to imported wheat.
Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, president of the forum, told journalists on Tuesday that the restrictions had been imposed to ensure adequate supply of wheat at affordable prices in the market. But though the restrictions are applicable on domestic stock, imported consignments that have landed are being stocked by traders, Mr Gidwani said.
In the last week of August, the Centre issued an order under the Essential Commodities Act imposing stock limits and movement restrictions on wheat and pulses to control rising prices of these two commodities during the festive season.
The Centre also empowered the state governments to issue necessary notifications for the implementation of this order. The Maharashtra government issued a notification in the first week of September.
The forum has also demanded that the Centre release 50,000 tonnes of wheat every month to Maharashtra from October ’06 to March ’07 for Rs 850 per quintal to reduce the price of wheat in the open market.
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The price is soaring over Rs 1,200 per quintal in the wholesale market and Rs 1,800-2,000 per quintal in the retail market, Mr Gidwani said. This has led to a rise of Rs 5 per kg in the open market, he said. The Centre’s decision to import 5.5m tonnes of wheat has been taken to check prices and the Centre is footing a bill of Rs 2,000 crore to subsidise wheat imported at a huge cost, he said.
“In order to make this huge cost on subsidies really beneficial to consumers, the state should seek more stock under the Centre’s open market sale scheme for Rs 850 per quintal,” Mr Gidwani added.
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