Centre halves sugar stock limit for dealers to curb hoarding, price rise

NEW DELHI: Centre on Tuesday tightened the stock limit for sugar dealers, reducing it from 4,000 quintals to 2,000 quintals from September 15 to November 30, as it sought to curb hoarding and contain rising retail prices.The food ministry said the existing 4,000-quintal limit would continue in Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas “considering the specific market requirements of the region”.The move is aimed at ensuring adequate availability of sugar in the domestic market and preventing hoarding and speculative trading, the ministry said.Under the revised rules, dealers cannot hold sugar stocks for more than 30 days from the date of receipt. They will also not be allowed to hold more than 2,000 quintals at any time at any location across the country.The ministry said the 4,000-quint