Gujarat govt imposes restrictions on wheat, pulses stocks

The state government has decided to impose certain restrictions on traders and millers dealing in wheat and pulses.

Wheat traders would henceforth be allowed to keep 10,000 tonne of stock and will have to declare all the details in case wheat stocked with them exceeds the specified limit.

Further, to curb the stockpiling of pulses, the government has also capped the stock limit for processed products of pulses at one-twelfth of the turnover of a miller. In the case of inputs, the limit has been fixed at one sixth of the turnover.

"If the trader has more wheat stock than specified by the state government, they will have to declare to the government as to from where the stock was purchased and kept, and at what prices," sources in the Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation said.

The department has already asked all the district-level officers to strictly monitor the situation and ensure that the limits set by the state government be observed. It has also directed the officials to take stern action against those who violate the stock limits.

It may be mentioned here that there was an artificial shortage of wheat following heavy stocking by mutilation food companies in 2006-07. Recently, the Gujarat Roller Floor Mills Association (GRFMA) has demanded continuance of ban on wheat futures.

"Even at this point of time, these companies are sitting on huge stocks of wheat and it is learnt that these companies are lobbying to get the ban on wheat futures lifted," said Trilok Agrawal, secretary of GRFMA.