Move to cap rice prices fails to cut ice with traders in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Telangana government’s move to regulate fine rice prices has yet to make an impact across Hyderabad, with most traders continuing to sell rice above the officially notified rates despite raids by the Civil Supplies Department.

On October 31, the State government fixed maximum retail prices for three popular fine rice varieties.

Accordingly, BPT/KNM varieties were priced at Rs.66 per kg, RNR/Telangana Sona at Rs.74 and HMT/JSR at Rs.79 per kg.

However, a majority of traders are yet to implement the revised prices. While some shops in areas such as Ramnagar have displayed price boards as directed by the government, compliance remains limited in several other localities.

A wholesale trader from ECIL told *The Hans India*, on condition of anonymity, that millers were not supplying rice at prices that would enable wholesalers to follow the government’s rates. He said millers should sell rice to wholesalers at least Rs.5 to Rs.20 per kg below the notified maximum retail prices to ensure that the supply chain operates smoothly.

A retailer from SR Nagar said traders were reluctant to sell their existing stocks at the government-fixed rates as they had purchased them at higher prices from wholesalers.

He added that they would implement the revised rates once they received fresh stocks at lower prices from millers and wholesalers.

Meanwhile, a consumer, Ramana, from Ramnagar said he had purchased HMT rice at the government-fixed rate of Rs.79 per kg on Monday.

However, he pointed out that the price of other rice varieties, apart from the three specified categories, continued to remain high.

The situation indicates that despite the government’s announcement, effective implementation of the revised rice prices depends largely on millers and wholesalers supplying stocks at lower rates, while consumers continue to face varying prices across the city.

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The Hans India