AP Govt seize commodities worth Rs 360 crore

Tirupati, July 20 (UNI) The Vigilance and Enforcement (V&E) officials raided 54 godowns and seized essential commodities worth Rs 360 crore since April this year at Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh Vigilance and Enforcement Director-General S K Jayachandra said today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the investigation revealed that the traders had hoarded the commodities in the name of farmers and on false names, and as par the Pulse Control Order (PCO), a wholesale dealer could store only 1000 quintals of pulses only, while a retailer could store 40 quintals. V &E department, would book cases against the traders, if they violate the Essential Commodities Act, he added.

Stating that the traders should pay four per cent Value Added Tax(VAT) and one per cent Agriculture Marketing Cess, Mr Jayachandra said the deparment would register cases against the traders, if they attempt to sell pulses on black-market.

He said Rs two per kg rice under Public Distribution Scheme(PDS) had succeeded to a great extent in the State and about 1200 cases were booked against the errant PDS dealers during the raids.

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