TMCnet News
'States view awaited to amend Acts' [Bhubaneswar] [Times of India](Times of India Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BHUBANESWAR: The Union government is awaiting response from the state governments to amend two central Acts to curb hoarding of essential commodities and prevent black marketing. Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said this here on Thursday. "The government has begun the process to amend the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Prevention of Black Marketing Act, 1980. The Centre has sought views of states, whose consent is required to amend these laws," the minister told a news conference here. He was in Bhubaneswar to review implementation of programmes, relating to his ministry in Odisha. Paswan said the amendment proposal would not be tabled in the winter session of parliament since the states had not given their opinions. The minister said farmers across the country could sell their produce through a national common market at a uniform price, checking distress sale, after the Essential Commodities Act is amended. Besides, black-marketing will become a non-bailable offence with bigger penalty and longer sentences, he said. Talking about paddy procurement in Odisha, the Union minister said the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been told to lift the procured rice as early as possible to avoid damage. The state government would begin paddy procurement for the season from November 15. Of the total storage capacity of 14.5 lakh metric tonnes (MT) in the state, 7.5 lakh MT is with FCI. The state aims at procuring 45 lakh MT of paddy to make 30 lakh tonnes of rice in the 2014-15 kharif season. (c) 2014 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited |