Awaiting states' nod to amend essential commodities act: Paswan

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan Thursday said the Centre is waiting for the response of state governments to amend the Essential Commodities Act and Prevention of Black Marketing Act that will check hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities in the country.

"We have proposed to amend the two acts to prevent black marketing of essential commodities in the country. However, the state governments are yet to respond to the proposal of the ministry. The consent of state governments is required to amend the acts," Paswan told media here.

Paswan was here to review implementation of different programmes of the ministry in Odisha.

He said the amendment proposal would not be tabled in the winter session of Parliament since the states have not given their responses.

He said farmers across the country would be able to sell their produce through the national common market after the act is amended.

About the provisions to check hoarding, the minister said the governments have been delegated powers to implement the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, which will check price rise of potatoes, onions and tomatoes.

Admitting that there is not sufficient storage facility for essential commodities, he said the government is taking steps to increase storage capacity in the country.

Speaking about rice procurement in Odisha, Paswan said the state government will begin paddy procurement Nov 15 adding that Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been asked to lift the procured rice soon to avoid damage to it.

The state has a storage capacity of 14.5 lakh metric tonnes, out of which 7.5 lakh metric tonnes is with FCI. The Odisha government aims to procure 45 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to make 30 lakh tonnes of rice in the 2014-15 Kharif season.

The centre provides subsidized rice for 65,000 SC/ST students in Odisha. State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma urged Paswan to increase the number of these beneficiaries to 4.67 lakh.

"We will take necessary action on the proposal of the Odisha government," said Paswan.

Dasburma also requested the union minister to ensure hassle-free potato supply from West Bengal whose government sometimes imposes restrictions on potato supply, triggering a rise in the prices of kitchen essentials in the state.