Keeping the interests of consumers in mind, the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday directed the district magistrates not to register cases under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, regarding the fixation of the stock limit of wheat, rice, pulses and oilseeds.
Addressing mediapersons, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati said the state government was committed to ensure the availability of edible commodities at fair prices and to achieve this objective orders were being issued under the necessary provisions from time to time, which controls stockpiling on the one hand and checks the harassment of small traders on the other hand.
It may be mentioned that in order to control hoarding and rise in the prices of these commodities, the state government had on May 25, fixed a limit for stocking essential commodities for retailers and whole sellers by invoking the Essential Commodities Act. The state cabinet had also directed the officers of the department of food and civil supplies to take action against hoarders under the Act.