Question : SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

(a) whether hindrances are being faced in implementation of rules/laws relating to control of hoarding and black-marketing and maintenance of supply of essential commodities, including assault on enforcement authorities recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;and

(c) the. remedial steps taken in this regard?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K. V. THOMAS)

(a) to (c): The enforcement of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 lies with the State Governments/ Union Territories. The State Governments/UT Administrations have been delegated powers to take necessary action under the provisions of `The Essential Commodities Act, 1955`. No details of cases of hindrances in implementation of rules/laws relating to control of hoarding and black-marketing and maintenance of supplies of essential commodities including assault on enforcement authorities have recently been reported to the Government of India. However, the number of raids conducted, number of persons prosecuted, number of persons convicted and value of goods confiscated for violation of rules under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 during 2010 as reported by State Governments/UTs are as under:

Year	No. of	No.of	No.of	No.of	Value of	raids	persons	persons	persons	goods	arrested	prosecuted	convicted	confiscated	(in Rs.lakhs)

2010	204783	10906	4539	161	10500.7
(updated as on
23.02.2011)

The State Governments/UT Administrations are empowered to detain such persons under the Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, whose activities are found to be prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies of commodities essential to the community. Details of detention orders issued under the said Act and as reported to the Central Government by the State Governments/UT Administrations during the year 2010 are given below:-

Name of the State	2010

Gujarat	79

Tamil Nadu	120

Orissa	02

Maharashtra	02

Andhra Pradesh	01

Chhattisgarh	01

Total	205

As a follow up to the Chief Ministers(CMs) Conference held on 06.02.2010 under the Chairmanship of rime Minister, a Standing Core Group of some State CMs and Central Ministers had been constituted. The Core Group in its first meeting held on 08.04.2010 had decided, among others, to constitute a Working Group on Consumer Affairs under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Gujarat (with CMs of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra as its Members). The terms of reference of the Working Group included, inter-alia, the better implementation of and amendments to the Essential Commodities Act. The Working Group on Consumer Affairs has submitted its report on 02.03.2011 to the Prime Minister.

Question : SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

Answer given by the minister

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