Traders Warned Against Selling Rice Above Government-Fixed Prices

Anantapur: Anantapur district administration has warned rice traders, wholesalers, retailers, and supermarket chains against selling rice above the maximum retail prices (MRP) fixed by the state government.

The warning has been issued after a meeting on regulating rice prices and monitoring sales at the District Civil Supplies Office here on Tuesday.

District Civil Supplies Officer chaired the meeting attended by officials from Vigilance and Enforcement, Legal Metrology, representatives of rice millers, wholesale and retail rice traders, and representatives of major supermarket chains, including D-Mart and Reliance.

Officials pointed out that in view of the rising prices, the state government has fixed the maximum retail prices for different varieties of rice, while ensuring that quality rice is available to consumers at affordable rates.

According to the government-fixed rates, BPT-3291 (Sona), BPT-5204 (Samba) and KNM varieties should be sold at ₹66 per kg, while HMT and RNR varieties must be made available for ₹76 per kg.

Jai Sriram variety has been fixed at ₹82 per kg.

The ordinary MTU varieties will cost ₹47 per kg.

Officials have directed rice millers, wholesalers, retailers, and supermarket operators to prominently display the government-fixed price list at their sales outlets for the benefit of consumers.

They have also been instructed not to sell rice above the prescribed rates or charge different prices for the same varieties by marketing them under different brand names.

Every packed rice bag must carry the prescribed maximum retail price (MRP), the officials underlined.

Vigilance and Legal Metrology officials have warned that traders found charging excess prices, supplying less than the prescribed weight, or violating the MRP labelling norms would face legal action and penalties.

They could be also booked for illegal hoarding and creating artificial scarcity in the market.