Traders offer to sell pulses at discount for Deepavali

With the District Administration reining in pulses traders by seizing 14,710.34 quintals of pulses in raids in the recent past, traders have offered to sell the essential commodities at discounted rates for Deepavali.

Meanwhile, the district magistrate’s court, which has started proceedings against the accused traders, has ordered for auction of seized goods. The traders have submitted a proposal to the office of Senior Deputy Director K Rameshwarappa to sell the commodities at discounted rates for 15 days, Revenue and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad said here on Tuesday.

Prasad said the traders have offered to sell tur dal at the rate of Rs 120 per kg against Rs 155 kg, despite incurring a loss of Rs 35 per kg. Similarly, they have come foward to offer other dals at discounted rates at two kg per family.

Deputy Commissioner C Shikha clarified that the traders will be allowed to sell the commodities only after vetting its quality. The traders themselves have identified 10 places, where the commodities will be available, the officer added.

The minister attributed the present situation to the lack of produce, the advantage of which was encashed by traders, who hoarded it for their benefit.

The DC, who is also district magistrate under whose purview the cases booked under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 are dealt, heard the case of Valeram of M V Traders, a wholesale vendor at APMC Yard, Bandipalya, on Mysuru-Nanjangud Road. The trader had stocked pulses and other essential commodities weighing 1,333 quintals worth Rs 1.19 crore, according to a raid conducted on October 19.

In the interim order, the DC directed auctioning of certain commodities through e-auctioning at the APMC Yard. The commodities shall be auctioned in two stages — before November 6 in the first phase and between November 9 and 11 in the second phase. In the later stages, a decision will be taken on the disposal of remaining commodities and resumption of trade.

In another case of M R Harish Kumar of BTC Factory Outlet, APMC Yard, the officials had seized 185.90 quintals worth Rs 17.73 lakh on October 28. The seized commodities shall be auctioned in phases — November 8 and between November 9 and 11 under two phases.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department officials had raided 18 different places, including retailers, wholesalers and also supermarkets, between October 19 and 28 and had seized 14,710.34 quintals of essential commodities worth several crores of rupees.