Cabinet extends time limit of control order for pulses, oilseeds

The union cabinet on Tuesday extended the time limit of the "control order" under the Essential Commodities Act for pulses, edible oils and oilseeds by another year till September 30, 2016, to enable the state govs to take appropriate measures for their availability.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the cabinet meeting that pulses, edible oils and oilseeds were kept under a control order that was to end on September 30.

"The government has decided to extend it till September 30, 2016," he said, adding this would enable the state governments to take appropriate steps to ensure supply of these essential food items to the people without any problem.

The union food and public distribution ministry said in a release here that this decision will "enable states to regulate trade of these essential commodities and to continue to take effective operations under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955".

"They can impose stock limits/licensing requirements etc. to curb unscrupulous trading, hoarding and profiteering," it said.

"The extension will also help the states in tackling the problem of ensuring adequate availability of these commodities in the domestic market and keep prices under control," it added.

To increase availability of pulses in the domestic market, 5,000 tons of urad and 5,000 tons of tur has been ordered to be imported.

"These imports are likely to reach shortly, which will ease the price situation," the ministry said.