Rice Price Caps Set at ₹66–₹79, Hoarders to Face Strict Action
Telangana civil supplies department fixed maximum retail prices for rice varieties and warned traders against hoarding, overcharging and weight manipulation.
The civil supplies department on Monday warned rice traders against hoarding and overcharging, saying strict action would be taken against those creating artificial shortages and indulging in black-marketing.
Responding to reports of rice shortages and unjustified price increases, the department said it had fixed maximum retail prices for different varieties and intensified field inspections to protect consumers.
BPT and KNM rice cannot be sold for more than ₹66 per kg, while the ceiling for RNR and Telangana Sona has been fixed at ₹74 per kg. HMT and JSR varieties have a maximum retail price of ₹79 per kg.
The department cautioned retailers against believing unverified claims of shortages allegedly being spread by middlemen to drive up prices.
G.V. Shyam Prasad Lal, director of civil supplies and chief rationing officer, instructed retailers not to increase prices under pressure from wholesalers and traders.
He said retailers facing stock shortages could approach their respective district civil supplies officers, submit indents and procure rice directly from millers, bypassing intermediaries.
The department said it planned to invoke the PD Act against habitual offenders involved in hoarding and black-marketing.
Inspection teams have also begun checking malpractices, including selling 25-kg rice bags labelled as 26 kg and concealing original prices with stickers displaying inflated rates.
Officials warned that traders found violating the prescribed prices or manipulating weights would face stringent action.
