Cracking the whip on retailers in the wake of spiralling food prices, chief minister Sheila Dikshit today said her government will take strict action against those found overcharging.
"Amid rising food price situation, retailers think prices of every commodity should be high. But that's not the case. We will take action against retailers who are overcharging and we will do it," she told reporters after the meeting of chief ministers' Conference on prices here.
The officials with the Department of Weights and Measures will visit retail shops, including the bigger ones, and take stringent steps against them if found overcharging, she said.
Dikshit said "high food prices concern the people of Delhi" and expressed hope that "there would be some impact as we have started selling pulses through 386 outlets."
Agri-cooperative major NAFED has collaborated with the Delhi government to supply arhar dal, moong, urad, parimal rice and edible oil at 30 per cent lower than the market rates from February 5.
She also noted the onus of bringing down the food prices rests both on the Centre and the state governments. "It is not good to blame each other (Centre and State) for rising prices. Therefore, I think we should collectively tackle the problem."
The Centre is ready to address its shortcomings, while the states should also try do so, she added. Noting that steps taken against hoarders have yielded some results, the chief minister said, "We have been taking action against hoarders and as a result mill owners and wholesalers have come forward to supply pulses (dals) and atta (wheat flour) at much cheaper rates."
She said the government is aware that foodgrains and kerosene allotted for families below poverty line (BPL) and Antodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) are do not reach the beneficiary and are being diverted by the ration shops sellers/owners themselves.
"This (diversion) is happening and everybody is aware of it. Foodgrains are not reaching to BPL and AAY families," she said.
