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Centre wants hoarding to be non-bailable offence


mangaloretoday.com/ India Today

New Delhi, July 27, 2014: Every year the prices of some of the most essential vegetables and commodities in the Capital go through the roof. While suppliers, wholesalers and retailers argue over the extent of produce coming into the Capital, consumers are left to grapple with the situation.

Though the quick-fix usually lies in making these commodities available at subsidised rates by the government, a long-term solution is on the anvil.

 

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The Central government’s Department of Consumer Affairs is all set to bring in some changes to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Officials hope the changes in the Act would not only help in cracking the whip on hoarders and black marketers but also slow down the seasonal rise in price of commodities.

The changes proposed by the department include making offences under the Act non-bailable and holding the owner of the vehicle (used to siphon off produce) prima facie responsible for abetting the offences under the Act.

 

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"This proposal, along with the changes, has now been sent to the state governments, who will give their suggestions and then those will be sent to the Centre. Once the Centre receives all the suggestions, it will be tabled in the Parliament," said a senior Delhi government official.

As of Saturday, the price of tomatoes exceeded Rs.80 across Delhi’s retail markets. Earlier, onions and potatoes had been the cause of much agony for consumers and suppliers alike.

The proposal comes as good news to the Delhi government’s Food and Supply department, which has been trying to crack down on hoarders in order to check that the full extent of supply of foodgrains and farm produce reaches the wholesale and retail markets.

"This will make the law stricter against hoarding and blackmarketing. Though this does not pertain solely to essential vegetables such as tomatoes, onions or potatoes, it also extends to other essential commodities such as pulses, oil seeds, wheat, rice and edible oils," said the official.

With the changes, the Act will also enable the summary trial of offences falling under the Essential Commodities Act (1955) by a special court. "Kerosene is also another commodity which, in places other than Delhi, is subject to hoarding. The change will ensure that ration shops do not divert the commodities or fleece the consumers," added the official.


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