Cuttack: Acting on the directive of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to submit a report on the stock-holding of pulses in various shopping malls as part of the government’s anti-hoarding operations, a five-member team of the District Civil Supplies department raided some leading malls in the city here today.
The team, led by Assistant Civil Supplies Officer Gyanendriya Mishra, raided the Big Bazaar and Reliance Fresh malls.
During the raid, the team found a stock of 80.80 quintals of dal in Big Bazaar and 19 quintals in Reliance Fresh.
The team also verified receipt to check the price of dal sold by the mall authorities.
Talking to media persons, Mishra said during the raid on these two malls, no excess stock of dal was found.
Asked whether the raid would continue, he said apart from the malls, there will be raid on the godowns and retail shops at regular intervals. “If anyone is found selling dal at a higher rate, the department will take necessary action”, he added.
Also read: Centre seeks report on stock-holding of pulses in malls
Notably, the ministry, in a letter had stated that Arhar and Urad dals are sold at below Rs 100 in shopping outlets like Reliance Fresh and Big Bazaar. The ministry had asked the State Consumer Welfare Department to find out whether the malls have ample stock of pulses with them or not. It also sought to know whether the department has raided the retail counters of the malls. Following this, the department in a letter to the Cuttack and Khurda Civil Supply officers (CSOs) yesterday had asked them to give report on the accumulation of pulse in Big Bazaar and other outlets.