New Delhi: In order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, the Union Government today imposed stock limits on the wheat applicable to traders – wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors for all States and Union Territories.
The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2023 was issued on June 12, 2023, and is applicable until March 31, 2024, for all States and Union Territories.
To soften the prices of wheat which are showing an increasing trend, the Central Government has decided to revise the wheat stock limit from 3000 metric tonnes (MT) to 2000 MT with respect to traders/wholesalers and big chain retailers as under:
- Traders/Wholesaler- 2000 MT;
- Big Chain Retailer- 10 MT for each outlet and 2000 MT at all their depots
For other categories, there is no change in stock limits. All wheat stocking entities are required to register on the wheat stock limit portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login) and update the stock position every Friday. Any entity which is found to have not registered on the portal or violates the stock limits will be subject to suitable punitive action under Sections 6 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act,1955.
In case the stocks held by the above entities are higher than the above-prescribed limit, they shall have to bring the same to the prescribed stock limits within 30 days of the issue of the notification, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, stated today. It added that officials of Central and State Governments will be closely monitoring enforcement of these stock limits to ensure that no artificial scarcity of wheat is created in the country.
“The Department of Food and Public Distribution is maintaining a close watch over the stock position of wheat to control prices and ensure easy availability in the country,” it reiterated.
– global bihari bureau
