Dist admin seals 25 godowns to prevent hoarding of pulses

Pune: To prevent hoarding of pulses and food oil, the Pune Food and Civil Supplies Department carried out raids at and sealed 25 godowns of wholesale traders located at Gultekdi Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC).

The raids were carried out by officials of the district civil supplies department after 10 pm on Monday.
As the rates of the pulses shot up pinching the common man, the State government instructed the district administration to check whether traders are resorting to hoarding the commodities to create an artificial shortage.

The Additional District Collector, Pradip Patil, told media persons on Tuesday that the State government has given instructions to the district administration to verify the stocks of the traders.
“Now onwards, traders cannot stock over 3,500 quintals of pulses and those traders who do not abide this rule will be taken to task,” he said.

According to him, the district administration sealed 25 godowns of the wholesalers for verification of stocks and bill books.

Patil warned that if traders pile up stocks, the administration will take strict action against them.
However, the sudden raids have irked the Poona Merchants Chamber, the apex body of the traders in the city.

President of the chamber Pravin Chorbele said that there were protests from the traders after the raids.
“The officials had planned to seal 180 godowns/shops dealing in pulses. But due to our protest, the officials had to stop the exercise. The traders wanted that appropriate action be taken in the morning,” he said.

As a mark of protest, the traders had kept shops shut till 1 pm on Tuesday. “We demand the verification of stocks should be done properly,” he said.