Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday said the Delhi government will take strict action against the retailers found overcharging,following a conference of chief ministers addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue of rising food prices and agricultural output. Retailers think prices of every commodity should be high in a situation of rising food cost, she said. But thats not the case. We will take action against retailers who are overcharging. She said officials from the Department of Weights and Measures will visit retail shops,including bigger outlets,and take stringent steps against anyone found overcharging. According to Dikshit,the governments initiative of selling pulses through 386 outlets is a way to meet the high cost of food items. Agri-cooperative major NAFED has collaborated with the Delhi government to supply a variety of pulses arhar,moong and urad parmal rice and edible oil at 30 per cent lower than the market rates. The scheme began on Friday. Dikshit said the onus of bringing down the food prices rests both on the Centre and the state governments. ENS
