Onus on states to keep dal prices in check: Centre

NEW DELHI: The Centre has urged state governments to consider a “pricing policy” for pulses and other essential food items such as edible oil and for “capping prices” at which these items can be bought and sold. In a letter to state chief secretaries, consumer affairs secretary Hem Pandey urged them to remove all local taxes on commodities to ensure that these were available at reasonable prices.
A government release said the suggestion to consider a pricing policy and cap prices was in accordance with the Essential Commodities Act. Section 2 of EC Act, which deals with powers to control production, supply and distribution of essential commodities, empowers the Centre to ask states to act. “As per the law, states can take necessary steps to control the price at which essential commodities are bought or sold.
“Since this power has been delegated to states, we are only requesting them to use their power so that people get essential food items at fair prices,” an official said.
He added that states could consult all stakeholders, including producers, importers, wholesalers and retailers, while working out a pricing policy. Last year, Maharashtra had taken the step to fixed prices at which confiscated pulses could be sold.