Delhi Govt invokes Essential Commodities Act

Delhi Government has invoked the Essential Commodities (EC) Act to check hoarding of essential food items.

Delhi Government has invoked the Essential Commodities (EC) Act to check hoarding of essential food items in view of the spurt in prices of wheat and pulses in the Capital.

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Exercising its power conferred under Section 3 of the EC Act, the government has with immediate effect revived the Delhi Wheat (Licensing and Control) Order 1996 and the Delhi Pulse (Licensing of Dealer) order 1974 which were rescinded in 2002 and 2004 respectively.

"We were flooded with complaints that big operators and commission agents were hoarding essential commodities, leading to steep rise in the prices in the city. Hence we have decided to revive and enforce the Control Order which were suspended a few years back," said a senior official of the Food and Civil Supplies Affairs Department of the Delhi Government.

As per the new order, dealers, retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers of all kinds of pulses and wheat having a certain minimum stock of the commodities have been directed to apply for licence and maintain stock limits as instructed.

In case of wheat, wholesalers cannot keep a stock of more than 500 quintals while retailers and atta chakkis can keep a maximum quantity of 100 quintals.

For pulses, the maximum limit for wholesalers is 2,000 quintals, while for retailers it is 50 quintals.

Those flouting the Act would be slapped with a fine and prison term.