The Hindu Business Line : Maharashtra drive to check hoarding

Mumbai, April 9 The Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Department has seized Rs 8.65 crore worth of foodgrain over the past two days in its drive to investigate the stocks of wholesale traders, said a state government official to Business Line.

On April 7, around 150 officers from the ration department raided the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee market in Navi Mumbai to check instances of hoarding. Around 45 raids were conducted; 23 cases were registered and 30 arrests made in Mumbai and Thane districts, according to State government officials.

Government officials and traders accused each other of harassment and physical violence during the raids. “A scuffle ensued,” said a government official who conducted the raid. “But I think we were successful as it set an example and will discourage people from hoarding.”

Under the latest revision (2007) to the Essential Commodities Act, the stock limit of wheat for a single trader is 3,000 quintals in the Mumbai-Thane zone and 1,000 quintals in the rest of the State.

The limit for pulses, edible oils and oil seeds is 3,000 quintals and 1,500 quintals respectively. For rice, stocks limits don’t apply, explained the official.

Representatives of Grain Rice and Oilseeds Merchants’ Association (GROMA) met Mr Vasant Davkhare, Deputy Chairman, Maharashtra Legislative Council, and Mr Sunil Tatkare, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, to protest against the raids.

“The Minister has assured us that there will be no further harassment to small traders. Since so many officers came to inspect, traders panicked and there was a scuffle,” said Mr Devendra Vora, GROMA.

Official data obtained from the state government shows that between January 2007 and Feb 2008, there have been 2,597 raids, with 3,294 persons arrested for hoarding. The total value of seized goods during the same period is about Rs 6.97 crore.

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