State tells traders it'll cancel Metro's licence

The Karnataka government has promised the traders in Bangalore it would reconsider its decision to give a licence to Metro Cash & Carry to trade in 112 notified commodities. The traders in Bangalore’s Yeshwanthpur market yard had opposed the government move and threatened to go on an agitation if the government failed to withdraw the licence.

Dr V S Acharya, minister of higher education, who held talks with the traders in the absence of chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, admitted that the government was in the wrong while giving the licence to Metro Cash & Carry and did not study the amended APMC Act properly. He promised the traders that the government would reconsider its decision to give the licence to Metro after discussing with the chief minister.

He told Business Standard after the meeting with the government, Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, President, Bangalore Wholesale Food Grains & Pulses Merchants’ Association (BWFGPMA), said, “We asked the government the basis on which the licence was given to Metro Cash & Carry when the amended APMC Act clearly allowed them to trade only in perishables, and the government had no answer. Dr Acharya has understood the issue and admitted that the department officials have made a mistake. He has given a firm assurance that the licence given to Metro would be withdrawn very soon after discussing the matter with the chief minister by Monday next.”

Representatives of BWFGPMA, I S N Prasad, secretary to the chief minister, Nagaraj, deputy director, department of agriculture marketing were present at the meeting.

On January 18, director of agricultural marketing V B Patil had issued the licence to Metro Cash & Carry India Pvt Ltd to trade in all the 112 notified agricultural produce in both their private market yards at Bangalore. However, as per the amendment carried out to the state APMC Act in 2008, the government had permitted the company to trade in only perishables like fresh vegetables and fruits.