Stock limits for pulses, edible oils and rice extended till September

The centre has extended an order on stock limits and movement of essential commodities like pulses, edible oils and edible oil seeds, rice and paddy for another six months, ie, till 30 September 2009, in view of the rising prices of these commodities.

The centre has done this by keeping a notification dated 15 February 2002 regarding removal of licensing requirements, stock limits and movement restrictions in abeyance for six more months and extending the validity of another central notification dated 29 August 2006 in respect of wheat and pulses.

In order to limit the impact of the rising prices of these commodities, with the approval of the cabinet, the validity of the central notification dated 29 August 2006 was extended thrice for six months each vide central notifications dated 27 February 2007, 31 August 2007 and 28 February 2008. The validity of this notification is presently up to 30 April 2009.

It has also been decided to further impose similar restrictions on stocks of these commodities for another six months, so as to tackle the rising trend of prices as well as availability of these commodities to the common people, a government release said.

The state governments/UT administrations by virtue of these notifications are empowered to take effective action for undertaking de-hoarding operations under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This step is expected to have a salutary impact on both prices and availability of some essential commodities in the country.