The state government has decided to tighten the noose on Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs),traders and stockists across Gujarat for hoarding essential commodities,especially pulses and sugar. The state government has brought sugar and pulses under the Stock Limit Control order to make the supply smooth. Under the order,stockists as well as traders will have to sell sugar and pulses within 30 days of purchase. The government actions follows the Centres advice to states to curb hoarding of essential commodities. Prices of sugar and pulses have seen an upward movement since June last year. An inquiry has been initiated against those found guilty of hoarding, said V P Patel,Additional Secretary and Director,Food and Civil Supplies Department. In the first two week this month,the department seized sugar worth Rs 8.2 crore. We are checking all APMC godowns. We have also issued the Stock Limit Control order so that they dont hold the stock for long, Patel said. Gujarat State Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories chairman Mansinh Patel said,In order to control sugar prices,the Central government should buy it from producers. The price of sugar hovers around Rs 49 per kg. He said the stock was still lying at Kandla Port. Biren Vakil of Paradigm Commodity Advisor said: Stringent government action will ensure cooling down of sugar prices in the retail market. However,some retailers who have bought sugar when prices were high will tend to cushion losses. Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has called a meeting with chairman of the Gujarat and Maharashtra Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories on Wednesday to discuss how to process sugar for consumption. The production of sugar in Gujarat was around 96 lakh tonnes last year and has gone up to 1.1 crore tonne this year.
