Food

As Prices Soar, Govt Sets Up Panel To Monitor Essential Items, Conduct Surprise Checks

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: With food prices soaring, the Central government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to monitor and control the situation.

The committee will keep an eye on domestic prices, shipments and availability of agri commodities, especially edible oil, Hindustan Times reported quoting an official.

The government has also constituted special teams to crack down on hoarding and profiteering under Essential Commodities Act through surprise checks on edible oil processors and traders.

Headed by Union Food secretary Sudhanshu Pandey, the committee reviewed edible oils situation and met representatives of major oil processing associations.

“The Centre is keeping a close watch on prices of edible oils so that appropriate measures can be taken to keep a check on the prices,” a statement by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said on Sunday.

According to the ministry, India’s current stock of edible oil is estimated to be 2.1 million tonnes approximately, which is sufficient for May.

Another 1.5 million tonne of imported edible oil is in transit, and will arrive in batches during the course of the month, data showed.

Nearly two-thirds of India’s cooking oil requirement is imported. Thanks to a sudden decision by Indonesia — world’s largest palm oil exporter — to ban palm oil exports, edible oil prices have spiralled.

Supplies, which were already affected by shortages after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have been hit further.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Law Minister Assures ‘Crime-Free Odisha For Women’ By 2036 Amid Outrage Over Cuttack Gangrape

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: Amid statewide outrage over alleged gang-rape of a girl college student in Odisha's Cuttack…

November 8, 2024

CID To Investigate Case Of ‘Missing Samosas’ Meant For Himachal CM? Where Did They Vanish?

New Delhi: A controversy has erupted in Himachal Pradesh over samosas that went missing from…

November 8, 2024

IT Engineer Held For Raping Colleague On False Promise Of Marriage In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: An IT engineer was arrested by the Commissionerate Police on Friday on charges of…

November 8, 2024

In-Charge Medical Officer & Pharmacist Caught Taking Rs 40K Bribe In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Friday apprehended medical officer in-charge of Boipariguda Community Health…

November 8, 2024

Men Shouldn’t Tailor Women’s Clothes Or Cut Their Hair, UP Women’s Body Proposes

New Delhi: Men should not tailor clothes for women or cut a woman’s hair either,…

November 8, 2024

Driver Dead, Over 30 Passengers Injured As Bhubaneswar-Bound Bus Overturns In Nayagarh

Bhubaneswar: Driver of a bus died and over 30 passengers sustained injuries as the vehicle…

November 8, 2024

Rupee Falls To All-Time Low Of 84.37 Against US Dollar

New Delhi: The rupee fell 5 paise to an all-time low of 84.37 against the…

November 8, 2024

[Watch] How BJP MLAs Were Marshalled Out Of J&K Assembly Again Amid Ruckus Over Article 370 Restoration

Srinagar: For the third day in a row, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Friday…

November 8, 2024