The Maharashtra government has proposed an Act to control rising prices of pulses. However, consumers will not get immediate relief from the soaring prices.
The Maharashtra government has proposed an Act to control rising prices of pulses. However, consumers will not get immediate relief from the soaring prices. The state Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal of the Act and it will be sent to the President for his nod. According to the proposed Act, the government can punish person or company for not selling pulses at specified rates. The punishment includes imprisonment for up to three months to one year and a fine that would be in proportion to the amount of pulses hoarded. Maharashtra will be the first state to come up with such an Act to control prices of pulses.
The government moved the Act taking cognisance of rising prices of tur dal, which is being sold at Rs 200 per kg currently. The Act will be applicable for tur (pigeon pea), moong (green gram), urad (black lentil), masoor (pink lentil) and rajma. “This is the first time that a state is coming up with an Act to control prices of pulses. The government will decide the prices of pulses region-wise and the shopkeepers will have to sell at these price only, or else punitive action will be taken. The proposed Act will be sent to the President for his approval,” food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
The rates specified by the government will be applicable for four to six months and it will be ensured that the shopkeepers do not suffer losses, the minister added. “The rates will be decided for a municipal region or for a district depending on factors like travel expenses, production, demand etc. We will ensure that the shopkeepers do not face losses, but prices will not be rampant. The Act will be applicable for pulses imported from other countries too,” the minister said.
Mr Bapat said that the Act was one of the measure to give immediate relief to consumers.
“The Act will rein in the prices of pulses which are out of control at present. It will take some time to get all approvals for the Act. I cannot immediately say when it will be implemented. But, we are trying our best to bring it into force soon,” added the minister.
