Rs 3.24 cr worth of pulses seized in Belagavi, Ballari

The Food and Civil Supplies department has so far seized 2,047.07 quintals of pulses worth Rs 2.07 crore, following a massive crackdown on hoarders in Belagavi.

Many traders have been booked for hoarding pulses, particularly green gram and tur dal, the prices of which have skyrocketed in the market due to the artificial shortage created by stocking. Till now, eight cases have been booked against traders and 32 raids have been conducted.

On October 25, officials seized 584,90 quintals of pulses worth Rs 50.03 lakh after raids on Sri Somanath Trading Company at Ravivarpeth in Belagavi and 130.3 quintals of pulses worth Rs 14.02 lakh from Sri Rakesh Trading Company.

Officials conducted raids on A L Kalmani in Ravivarpeth, Kakashri Oil and General Stores in Vadagaon, where they seized 59.8 quintals of pulses worth Rs 3.83 lakh and 16.6 quintals of pulses worth Rs 1.32 lakh, respectively.

Traders are taking advantage of the difference in demand and supply, by stocking huge quantities of pulses to make a quick buck.

The seized stock stands testimony to the huge quantities that are not being released by traders into the market. But the stock seized is only the tip of the iceberg, according to Food and Civil Supplies officials.

In Ballari
Officials of the Food and Civil Supplies department raided 17 godowns in Ballari district and seized tur dal worth Rs 1.17 crore, which was stocked illegally. A total of 678 quintals of tur dal have been seized. Cases have been registered against the hoarders.

The officials said that the retailers and wholesale dealers, besides edible oil producers should avail licences mandatorily.

The deadline for this, which was October 31, has been extended. Their sales should not exceed the limit prescribed, the officials said. Madhusudan, the deputy director of the department, has warned action against traders in case of discrepancies in the weights and measurements.

He has directed that traders of tur dal should ensure that there is no shortage of the commodity in the open market, by taking precautionary steps.