The Hindu : Elumalai warns traders against hoarding More cycles on roads

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Elumalai warns traders against hoarding More cycles on roads

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry April 18. The Local Administration and Civil Supplies Minister, A. Elumalai, said here today that the Administration was keeping a vigil on the situation arising out of the indefinite strike by truck operators and there would be no room for any section to indulge in profiteering or hoarding of essential commodities.

Mr. Elumalai told newsmen that Government would take severe action against traders hoarding essential commodities. Flying squads were being formed to prevent exploitation of the situation, he said and hinted that he himself would pay surprise visits to ensure that consumer interests were protected.

The Pondicherry government-owned corporations PAPSCO (civil supplies corporation) and PASIC (Agro Services Industries Corporation) procured 20 lorry loads of vegetables from Bangalore and Chennai. Ten truckloads of petrol and diesel were procured from IOC, Chennai, on Thursday alone.

The Chief Secretary, R. Padmanabhan, said rationing was adopted for supply of petrol and diesel to consumers. Two litres of petrol would be made available for two-wheelers, while five litres for automobiles. Twenty litres of diesel would be available for heavy vehicles.

The District Collector and the Additional District Magistrate have the powers to take action if there was any violation of the provisions of the National Security Act invoked by the Administration to prevent exploitation of the situation by traders.

The Pondicherry Consumers Welfare Association general secretary, V. Thirunavukarasu, said here today that the steps taken by the Chief Minister, the Civil Supplies Minister, the Chief Secretary, the Secretary to Civil Supplies department and the officials of the department had been very effective in ensuring uninterrupted availability of essential commodities.

He said he had written a letter to the Chief Minister requesting him to continue the steps so that no disruption would be experienced in getting the essential commodities.

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