In view of the sky-rocketing prices of pulses, Maharashtra cabinet today approved the draft of 'Maharashtra Pulses Price Regulatory Act', whereby traders will have to sell the pulses at the government-approved prices for a period of six months after it comes into operation.
A jail term ranging from three months to one year or fine or both will be awarded to the traders, stockists, importers, middlemen, cooperative consumer societies, etc., who sell the pulses at a rate higher than the approved one.
Consumer Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said the prices of pulses will be regulated under the section 3 of Maharashtra Essential Commodities Act.
These prices will vary from place to place, and vary at different points of the production and supply, to account for transportation, labour and production costs, he said.
The proposed law makes it mandatory for the traders to give receipt of the pulses sold. Price will have to be mentioned on packed pulses.
"If any company, cooperative consumers' society or any organisation is found guilty, then its manger, secretary, middlemen, officer or any other person who has links with the management will be held responsible," Bapat said.
Police officials not below the rank of sub-inspector or any officer from the Food and Civil Supplies department or Rationing Inspector from Revenue Department shall have the power to undertake inspection of shops, godowns, etc., for enforcing the law.
The draft will be sent to the President of India for approval, and till then the state Government will promulgate an ordinance or will introduce the bill in the monsoon session of the state legislature, Bapat said.
