ADITYA RAJ DAS
The Government has reduced the stock holding period for sugar dealers to 15 days and fixed the stock holding limit at one thousand quintals, with effect from the 15th of this month. It will remain effective till November this year.
Consumer Affairs Ministry said that the government has revised the sugar stock holding norms to prevent hoarding and ensure smooth supply to consumers during the festive season.
Under the revised provisions, the stock holding limit for Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas and Assam have been fixed at two thousand quintals.
The Ministry said, Kolkata sources sugar from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka and supplies it to the eastern part of the country, including the North-Eastern region.
The higher limit for Assam has been provided keeping in view geographical constraints, transportation logistics and consumer interest in the North-Eastern region.
The Ministry said that average retail sugar prices have declined by 15 per cent from their August peak and are expected to decline further. Ex-mill sugar prices have also declined by approximately 28 per cent and have remained stable over the last three weeks.
The decline reflects the impact of various measures taken by the Government to ensure adequate availability of sugar and facilitate its orderly movement through the market. Wholesalers and retailers have also been urged to immediately pass on the benefit of the substantial decline in ex-mill sugar prices to consumers.