Thaindian News

Bhopal, Aug 19 (IANS) There is no respite from high retail prices of sugar in Madhya Pradesh even though authorities continued their anti-hoarding drive Wednesday and seized around 1,500 tonnes of illegally stocked sugar.
The wholesale price of the commodity came down after the government sized some 4,000 tonnes of hoarded sugar in the last five days, but consumers say they are still paying high price in the retail market.

“We are reading in newspapers that the sugar prices in the wholesale market have declined by Rs.400 to Rs.500 per quintal. But we still have to pay Rs.32 per kg or so for a kilogram,” said M.P. Goswami, a retired employee at Bharat Heavy Electricals.

“When I asked the shopkeeper about it, he said the retailers are still selling the old stock, which was bought for higher wholesale prices,” he added.

State civil supplies officials, backed by police, started a massive crackdown on hoarders last week and have seized more than 4,000 tonnes of the commodity so far.

Raids have been conducted in towns like Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Shivpuri, Indore and Dewas.

“The wholesale price which was Rs.3,300 per quintal till Monday came down to the range of Rs.2,850 and Rs.2,950 and is likely to fall further,” Anupam Agarwal, a spokesperson of the Madhya Pradesh Wholesale Traders Association, told IANS.

“The association has decided to sell sugar to retailers at a fixed price. But we don’t have any control over retail prices,” he added.

On Tuesday, 1,328 tonnes of sugar worth Rs.4.5 crore were seized from Cadbury India’s plant in Malanpur in Bhind district. Officials said the company had not sought any permission to stock the commodity.

Food and Civil Supplies Commissioner Ajit Kesri said nearly 1,500 tonnes of sugar stock was seized Tuesday.

“Those found violating the Essential Commodities Act have been booked under section 3/7 of the Act,” he said.

The government issued a sugar control order July 25, making it compulsory for traders to seek licenses that will be valid till Dec 31.

In a town with a population of less than 100,000, no trader is allowed to stock more than 20 quintals and in bigger towns, the upper limit is 2,000 quintals.