Centre imposes harsher measures to prevent pulses hoarding

The limit for stocks with wholesalers and big-chain retailers has been cut from 200 tonnes earlier to 50 tonnes.

The Centre on Monday imposed harsher measures to tame prices of pulses, extending the period till which an anti-hoarding measure known as stock limits will be imposed on traders, from October 31 earlier to December 3, amid high food prices, a notification on Monday by the consumer affairs ministry said.

According to the notification issued on Monday, the limit for stocks with wholesalers and big-chain retailers has been cut from 200 tonnes earlier to 50 tonnes. The quantity of stocks for large millers has been reduced from total production in the preceding three months or 25% of annual capacity, whichever is higher, to the last one month production or 10% of annual capacity, whichever is higher, the notification said.

The new measures also stipulate that importers are not allowed to hold imported stocks beyond 30 days from the date of customs clearance.