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Delhi launches drive against hoarders

NEW DELHI: Determined to put an end to hoarding of edible oils, wheat and rice in order to bring down their prices, the Food and Civil Supplies Department of the Delhi Government on Saturday launched a massive raiding drive across the Capital. Over 200 places were raided during the day and 33 First Information Reports were lodged with the police against people found indulging in hoarding to create an artificial scarcity. During an informal review meeting of the Delhi Cabinet on the price situation on Saturday evening, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also underlined the need for taking the hoarders ``head-on”. She declared that unscrupulous traders would not be allowed to cheat people through hoarding and artificial increases in prices.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf also emphasised the importance of informing the public about the rates of essential commodities in the wholesale markets so that they are not fleeced by the retailers. He said such an awareness campaign would also empower people to confront traders who overcharge.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Yusuf said raids against hoarders would continue in the days to come. ``We have just started these raids and they will not stop till the price situation normalises,” he asserted. The Minister said as many as 60 teams of the Department were involved in Saturday’s raids on prime wholesale and retail markets all over Delhi. The areas which were raided included Lawrence Road, Alipur, Najafgarh, Narela, and Krishna Nagar.

The special teams which conducted the raids had been instructed to launch prosecution against unlicensed trading and impound vehicles carrying food grains bypassing the wholesale markets.

Asserting that the action would continue, Mr. Yusuf said ``the Government will not remain a mute witness to the hoarding of essential commodities and would not allow traders to keep the prices of various items high through hoarding”.

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