Labour, input shortage & travel curbs hamper efforts to fix supplies in UP

Lucknow: Shortage of labour and raw material and transportation issues are emerging to be the main bottlenecks in restarting commerce in Uttar Pradesh, according to information collated by the state commerce department.

This has led to inadequate stock of certain essential items, especially flour, in some cases.

As part of its study, the department has sought information from 2,484 units — 2,131 wholesalers and 353 producers — to understand the challenges being faced on ground.


While raw material unavailability has been the major concern for producers, for wholesalers, it is the transport hurdles and absence of passes to travel.

As much as 88.72% of the units, however, said they have adequate stock of essential items.

However, a finding that stood out was inadequate stock of flour — both wheat and white flour — with some producers and wholesalers. Out of 31 producers surveyed, 11 complained of inadequate stock, while 57 out of 249 wholesalers said they had limited supplies. The study, however, found that grain markets were well stocked and the department has asked field officers to solve the problems of wholesalers.

"There were initially some hiccups in maintaining stock of flour in late March but the state now has 919 large and medium flour mills running that are enough to take care of the consumption of the state," a government official told ET, adding that only a handful of units had highlighted stock constraints.

"Also, apart from ready flour which is consumed mostly in urban areas, the state PDS stores are also distributing wheat which is then milled by the beneficiary at small milling shops," the official said.