Question : Hoarding of Pulses

(a) whether prices of essential commodities including foodgrains, edible oils, vegetables etc. have increased substantially, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the corrective steps taken in this regard during the last three years and the current year;

(b) whether hoarding and black marketing have been identified as the major causes of price rise, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to check such practices;

(c) whether recent discovery of hoarded items point to the failure of the present regulations to check hoarding and black marketing, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto indicating the number of raids/searches conducted, essential commodities seized, number of cases registered and the penal action taken during the said period;

(d) whether the Government has directed the States to check hoarding and black marketing, if so, the details thereof and response of the States thereto; and

(e) the steps taken to strengthen the said regulations to check hoarding and black marketing and to control prices along with the mechanism in place to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities at affordable prices?

THE MINISTER FOR
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a) : Yes Madam. Details are at Annexure-I.

(b) : Yes Madam. Hoarding is one of the causes of price rise. Details of raids conducted since 19.10.2015 up to 11.12.2015 and quantity of pulses seized are at Annexure-II.

(c) : The regulations are adequate. Their effectiveness depends on enforcement by the State Governments. Details of action taken by the States during last three years are at Annexure-III.

(d) : Yes, Madam. From time to time, the Department of Consumer Affair requested the States/UTs to strengthen implementation of the Essential Commodities Act and carry out anti-hoarding and anti-black-marketing operations effectively. Last letter was sent on 17.09.2015. Two National level meetings of Food & Civil Supply Ministers of States were held on 04.07.2014 and 07.07.2015. The States were to prepare six-monthly action plans for July to December to check prices of essential food items. No State submitted the Action Plan.

(e) : The regulations are strong enough to check hoarding, black marketing, profiteering, price rise and to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities at affordable prices.

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