Pvt sector to make weekly declaration of rice stock

With Government’s procurement of rice in the current Kharif Marketing Season falling short of its estimated targets, the Centre on Tuesday made it compulsory for companies or individuals to file returns every week about their stock position if they purchase more than 10,000 tonnes of the grain.

The notification issued by the Union Food Ministry has asked private traders to inform their respective state governments in case they procure more than 10,000 tonnes of rice and to inform the Centre if they procure more than 25,000 tonnes. If anyone exceeds the prescribed limit, it has to file the returns to the state government

where the procurement quantity is highest, an official said.

This directive of weekly returns will be valid till December 31, 2007, after which the private players will have to file their stock position on a monthly basis till next September.