Kerala   

Union Minister’s contention refuted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Office of the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies has refuted the contention of Union Minister of State for Civil Supplies V. Narayana Swamy that the Kerala government was doing nothing to check hoarding and black marketing. In an official release here, the Minister’s office said the Union Minister had made the statement without ascertaining facts.

The government had conducted a large number of raids and had issued directives to arrest hoarders and black marketeers under the Essential Services Maintenance Act. A special squad comprising Civil Supplies Commissioner, Director of Civil Supplies, Controller of Legal Metrology and Rationing Controller had been formed to intensify raids. Following that, 755 sacks of wheat was seized from Kollam and 2,896 sacks of wheat from Karunagapally recently. Rice was seized from Thrisur.

The release said the price had risen across the country as a result of the liberalisation and privatisation policies followed by the Union government. Besides, the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act were diluted for the benefit of private agencies, thus paving way for their stocking any amount of food grains, hoarding and black marketing.

It added that Kerala had intervened strongly in the market foreseeing problems when the Centre had cut the State’s quota of grains for public distribution. More than 71,000 shops were raided and 8,119 quintal of rice, 52,604 quintals of wheat, 34,514 litres of kerosene and other items were seized. Punitive measures had also been taken. In addition, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C. Divakaran had inspected markets and ration shops.

It said that the latest cut in grains to the State by 4,000 tonnes had hit the public distribution system. However, foreseeing the possibility of hoarding and black marketing, the State government had taken steps to supply boiled rice at Rs.14 a kg and raw rice at Rs.13.50 a kg.

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