Cuttack, Sept 15: Yesterday a team of the District Civil Supplies department consisting of five members, conducted raids in some of the leading malls here. This was done according to the directive of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs which stated to submit a report on the stock-holding of pulses in various shopping malls as part of the government’s anti-hoarding operations. The Assistant Civil Supplies officer, Gyanendriya Mishra led the five member team and they raided the Big Bazaar and Reliance Fresh Malls. The team got hold of 80.80 quintals of dal in Big Bazaar and 19 quintals that of in Reliance Fresh. It also verified the receipt in order to check the price of dal sold by the mall authorities. Thus, Mishra informed the media that at the time of the raid no excess stock of dal was found. Asked whether the raid would continue, he said apart from the malls, there will be raid on the godowns and retail shops at regular intervals and any of the mall is found selling dal at a higher rate, necessary action will be initiated.
In shopping malls like Reliance Fresh and Big Bazaar, the rate of Arhar and Urad dals is below Rs 100, as mentioned in the letter. In the letter, the Ministry has also asked about the department’s raid at the retail counter of the malls thus asking the State Consumer Welfare Department to check whether there is ample stock of pulses in the shopping malls.
Following the letter, asking a report on the storage of pulses in Big Bazaar and other outlets, the Department wrote a letter to Cuttack and Khurdha Civil Supply officers (CSOs) on Tuesday.
It may be noted that, as per the government order, maximum 2000 quintals of pulses can be stocked by a wholesaler while retailers can stock 50 quintals. However, allegation came up on the violation of such limit by shopping outlets by the Trader’s associations.
