Central Government’s big step to control sugar prices during Puja season. In view of the upcoming Puja season, the Central Government has taken an important decision to prevent artificial shortage of sugar in the market and to provide sugar to the common consumer at affordable prices. To control the quantity of sugar in the market, the government has reduced the sugar stock limit for traders from 4,000 quintals to 2,000 quintals. This new rule will be effective from September 15 to November 30 this year.
From August 1 this year, the stock limit for sugar traders across the country was fixed at 4,000 quintals. But according to the information of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, this limit has been halved keeping in mind the upcoming festivals. According to the new guidelines, no sugar trader can keep sugar stock for more than 30 days from the date of receipt of the stock. However, considering the specific market demand and local conditions, the stock limit of 4,000 quintals will remain in force for Kolkata and its surrounding metropolitan areas.
The government has clarified that the main objective of this step is to prevent hoarding of sugar by unscrupulous traders. Sugar will not be allowed to be stored in excess and create an artificial crisis in the market. This will ensure that the supply chain of sugar in the country remains normal and consumers can get the required sugar at the right price. Due to various timely steps taken by the government, the wholesale price of sugar in the trading sector has come down by about 30% to Rs 47 per kg. It is worth mentioning that on August 18, it had reached the level of Rs 67 per kg. However, according to information received from industry sources, even though the price has come down in the wholesale market, its direct impact has not been fully seen in the retail market yet. According to sugar industry experts, it may take at least 10 more days for this correction and reduction in retail market prices to take place.
