UP wants curbs on grain trade

Faced with a mounting wheat crisis and poor procurement from the farmers on account of the minimum support price, the Uttar Pradesh government has moved a proposal to the Centre to re-impose the controls on the trading, storage and inter state movement of foodgrain like wheat, paddy and rice.

The state food ministry in February 2002 had withdrawn all regulatory measures on the trading of foodgrains including the mandatory licence for all foodgrain traders, stock limit and inter-state movement of goods.

Sudhir Kumar, principal secretary, food, however, said: "Lifting of all regulatory measures under the Essential Commodities Act 1955 like stock limit, licence, restrictions on inter-state movement on wheat, paddy and other food grains was a decision taken by the Centre.