New Delhi, Jul 25 (KNN)  Amid concerns over rising cost of vegetables and other essential commodities, the government has decided to allow free movement of perishable items like fruits and vegetables so that they are made available to areas that are facing shortage.

“The Centre has advised the States to allow free movement of fruits and vegetables by delisting them from the APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) Act so that availability can be ensured from surplus markets to the areas where these are in short supply,” said an official release.

Further, “An advisory to States has been issued to take action against hoarding and black marketing and effectively enforce the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980,” said the release quoting Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Raosaheb Patil Danve.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister also spoke about the recent steps taken by the Government to improve the availability and to contain prices of essential food items.

Danve said that in the union budget 2014-15, a sum of Rs 500 crore has been provided for establishing a Price Stabilization Fund with the objective of protecting the farmers from price volatility in agricultural produce.

States have also been advised to impose stock limits in respect of onion and potato for a period of one year with effect from 3rd July, 2014 under the Essential Commodities Act, he said.

Based on interaction with the State Governments/UTs on 4th July, 2014, a decision has been taken to amend the Essential Commodities Act to make hoarding and black marketing a non bailable offence and increase the period of detention to one year from the existing six months.  (KNN/ES)