Take action against hoarders and black marketers, says PM

New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Warning that the country was
facing a difficult situation with delayed and deficient
monsoons, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday
directed states to take strong measures against hoarders and
black marketers to check the spiralling prices of essential
commodities.

"Of late, we have seen a rising trend in the prices of
certain essential commodities like pulses, sugar and some
vegetables," he said addressing a conference of state Chief
Secretaries also attended by Agriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar and Union
Agriculture Secretary T Nanda Kumar.

Singh said "we will also have to ensure effective
enforcement of stock holding limits and strong action against
hoarders and black marketeers."

In order to contain increase in prices of essential
commodities, he said the Central government and the state
governments will have to work together and activise the public
distribution system, which is an important safety net,
especially for the poor and helps cushion them against price
rise.

"In short, the contingency plan for crops, drinking
water, human and animal health, fodder, etc should be brought
into operation without delay and a close watch kept on
availability of foodgrains and prices of essential
commodities," he said.

Assuring Centre's full support to states regarding any
additional assistance that may be required, Singh said "there
is need for us to act promptly, collectively and effectively.
In no case should we allow citizens to go hungry."

The meeting was called against the backdrop of poor
monsoon and the spectre of drought looming large over several
parts of the country. The Prime Minister himself said that 141
districts in the country have been declared drought affected
but no state has so far sent memorandum seeking assistance.

The Prime Minister referred to the possibility of
reduced production of kharif crops having an inflationary
impact on prices of food items in the coming months.

He said the country was facing a difficult situation as
the monsoon has been delayed and in many places deficient,
though some parts of the country have received normal or
excess rainfall.

Agricultural operations have been adversely affected in
several parts of the country, causing distress to farmers and
their families. A deficit of more than six million hectares
has been reported in paddy, which is the worst affected crop,
Singh said.

However, he said, the country was helped by the fact
that it was operating against the backdrop of record food
production and procurement of foodgrains in both 2007-08 and
2008-09. PTI MJH
ANU
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