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New licensing rule: stalemate continues

BHUBANESWAR: Time is ticking away for the Orissa government to find an ‘amicable’ solution to the licensing row with traders otherwise there will be utter chaos for essential grocery items in the open market.

Traders of Malgodam who cater to 40 per cent demand of essential commodities in the State say they have stopped importing goods since July 10 and the stock will finish within the next three days.

Although the Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) Department appeared to have made up its mind to relax the Orissa Food Stuff (licensing and control) Order, 2008, traders are unyielding and demanded the ‘repressive licence’ be fully revoked.

According to notification, wholesaler cannot possess more than 500 quintal of wheat, 300 quintal of edible oilseeds, 500 quintals of edible oil, including refined oil, 500 quintals of pulses and 750 quintal of rice. Moreover, the traders will have to deposit certain fee under the trade licence.

The gazette notification came into effect from June 5. The last date for applying for the licence has been extended to July 19. However, not a single trader has come forward seeking licence till date. Talks have been held thrice between officials of FCS and traders, but the impasse continued.

“We are living in an era of free trade. I cannot understand what wisdom the State government is again pushing us to licence raj period. We understand the State government’s concern to tackle the price rise, but it is not the way to curb the spiralling prices of commodities,” said B. K. Mohanty, secretary of the Federation of All Orissa Traders’ Association (FAOTA) on Sunday.

He said the Orissa was not a self-sufficient State in five commodities and they were being imported from different States and even foreign countries.

“Under these circumstances how does the question of hoarding or inducing price rise arise? We are here to import and sell,” Mr. Mohanty said.

Sources said the State government was ready to lift restrictions on possessing goods and further lowering down the licence fee, but traders bluntly said no to the licence system. “We import commodities in bulk. If the restrictions are imposed, the transportation will not be viable for us. Hence we will continue to bear losses and not able to do business,” the FAOTA secretary said.

When contacted FCS Minister Manmohan Samal said the discussion with traders was going on and the State government was hopeful of breaking the deadlock.

Whatever is the situation, fear has slowly started creeping in mind of consumers over the possibilities of shortage. On Sunday, people were seen resorting to panic buying and storing essential items despite their skyrocketing prices. Reports from Berhampur and western Orissa towns said the situation was also hopeless there.

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