Odisha govt issues stock holding limit for oil and pulses

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 17:

In order to rein in hoarders of essential commodities, the Odisha government today issued ‘Stock holding limit and licensing order’.

The ‘Stock holding limit and licensing order’ issued by the department of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare has fixed stock holding limits for merchants dealing in pulses, oilseeds and edible oils.

The order has fixed separate stock limits for wholesalers, retailers and importers dealing in pulses, oilseeds and edible oil.

As per the provisions of the order, a wholesaler can keep a maximum stock of 2,000 quintals of pulses, 1,000 quintals of oilseeds and 500 quintals of edible oil at any given point of time.

Similarly, a retailer can keep a maximum stock of 50 quintals of pulses, 50 quintals of oilseeds and 20 quintals of edible oil at any given point of time.

This apart, while traders dealing in pulses will be required to pay license fees and make security deposit, traders dealing in oilseeds and edible oil will be required to pay registration fees.

While license fee for wholesalers dealing in pulse has been fixed at Rs 5,000, the license fee for retailers has been fixed at Rs 500. Security deposit for wholesalers has been fixed at Rs 10,000.

“This will help in controlling price rise in the state,” said Prabhakar Rout deputy director of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department.

However, traders have opposed the state government’s decision.

Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Association (FAOTA) has demanded for raising the maximum stock holding limit. The traders’ body has also opposed security deposit, license and registration fee collection.

“The limit fixed by the state government is undemocratic. We demand  raising of stock holding limit,” said Sudhakar Panda general secretary of FAOTA.