(a) whether the retail consumer prices of the wheat flour and other essential commodities
are increasing in the open market day by day;
(b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last twelve months, item-wise; and
(c) the reasons for increasing the prices of essential commodities specially the wheat
and the steps taken by the Government to check such price rise ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI V. SREENIVASA PRASAD)
(a) & (b): The retail prices of most of the essential commodities including wheat flour
remained at reasonable levels during the last one year. A statement showing the month-end
retail prices of atta and other 12 essential commodities at Delhi for the period March, 1999
to February, 2000 is given in Annexure.
(c) : Apart from certain long term measures to increase production for stabilization
of offices of essential commodities imports of items which are in short supply, like pulses
have been placed under OGL at zero per cent import duty. One lakh tonnes of different
varieties of pulses have been imported on Government account to augment their availability
in the country. Export of onion has been placed under quantitative restriction. Some of
the essential commodities like rice, wheat, palmolein and kerosene are also supplied through
the outlets of public distribution system at below market prices. Stringent actions are being
taken against hoarders, black marketeers and others indulging in unfair trade practices under
the Essential Commodities Act and Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of
Essential Commodities Act by the State/UT Governments.
Statement referred to para (a) and (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Qustion No.157 for answer
on 24.2.2000
Month end retail prices of selected essential commodities at Delhi for the period March,1999
to February,2000
(Rs. Per kg)
Atta Wheat Rice Gram Arhar Sugar Groun- Must- Vanas Tea Potato Onion Salt (P) dnut ard pati Oil Oil
March,99 99.00 8.00 11.00 19.00 29.00 16.00 77.00 61.00 45.00 110.00 4.00 8.00 6.00 April,99 8.00 7.00 12.00 18.00 31.00 16.00 77.00 55.00 44.00 110.00 5.00 8.00 6.00 May, 99 8.00 7.00 12.00 19.00 36.00 17.00 77.00 49.00 44.00 115.00 6.00 8.00 6.00 June,99 8.50 7.50 13.00 19.00 34.00 17.00 77.00 45.00 42.00 115.00 9.00 10.00 6.00 July,99 8.50 7.50 13.00 20.00 34.00 17.00 70.00 45.00 37.00 115.00 9.00 11.00 6.00 Augt,99 8.50 7.50 13.00 18.00 33.00 17.00 68.00 53.00 42.00 115.00 9.00 10.00 6.00 Sept.99 8.50 8.00 12.00 20.00 34.00 17.00 71.00 51.00 40.00 115.00 9.00 11.00 6.00 Oct.,99 9.00 8.00 13.00 20.00 34.00 17.00 73.00 51.00 40.00 115.00 12.00 13.00 6.00 Nov.,99 9.00 8.00 13.00 20.00 34.00 17.00 73.00 49.00 38.00 115.00 6.00 10.00 6.00 Dec.,99 9.00 8.00 13.00 20.00 32.00 17.00 68.00 48.00 35.00 115.00 4.00 7.00 6.00 Jan.,2000 9.00 8.00 13.00 20.00 30.00 17.00 69.00 47.00 35.00 115.00 4.00 7.00 6.00 Feb.,2000 @ 9.00 8.00 13.00 20.00 29.00 17.00 69.00 44.00 35.00 115.00 3.50 7.00 6.00
@ As on 18.2.2000 Packed refined oil
Source : Food & Civil Supplies Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.