Steps to check price rise in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced a series of measures to combat the increase in the prices of essential commodities. The multi-pronged efforts will include the import of dhal, direct purchase of wheat from the northern States and placing restrictions on the amount of food commodities that can be stocked by traders.

A high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi decided to fix a ceiling on stocks of edible oil and rice that may be maintained both by retail merchants and wholesale traders. The quantum will be fixed soon.

Similarly there will be restrictions in stocking wheat, wheat flour and dhal varieties. Wholesale traders may not stock above 100 tonnes of wheat and 250 tonnes of dhal. For retail merchants, the limit is 3.125 tonnes of wheat and 6.25 tonnes of dhal. The purpose of imposing the restrictions, according to an official press release, is to check hoarding and black marketing.