Odisha mulls stern action against onion hoarders

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is seriously contemplating stringent action against hoarders of onion.

Any wholesaler/ retailer found maintaining stocks of onion in excess of the stipulated limits fixed by the State government will lead to cancellation of their licences.

The State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department on the basis of a gazette notification of the Central government has written to Collectors of all districts to take action against hoarders of onion. The department has directed Collectors to keep a close watch on onion stock and its price control in their respective districts.

While stock holding limit for onion for wholesalers in Bhubaneswar is 500 quintal, it is 300 quintal for wholesalers in Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Rourkela.

Similarly, stock holding limit of onion for retailers has been fixed at 14 quintals. Holding of stock beyond these limits will incur action from the government.

“Action will be taken against those found holding onion stocks beyond the stipulated limits fixed by the State government,” warned Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro.

On the other hand, Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Associations (FAOTA) has opposed the State government’s move while claiming that the government has not taken it into confidence before taking such decision.

“Prior to taking such decision, the State government should have discussed the matter with us. But it has not done so. Rather than decreasing price of onion, the move will lead to increase in its price,” said Sudhakar Panda, General Secretary of FAOTA.