No shortage of salt in the country: Govt

Rubbishing rumours of shortage of salt in the country and the commodity is being sold at 200 rupees per kg, Government has made it clear that there is no shortage of salt in the country. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan said, there has been no increase in the prices of the commodity. He told news agency PTI that on an average, salt prices are ruling at 14-15 rupees per kg same at last year's level.

In Uttar Pradesh, there were rumours of black marketing of essential commodities like salt after shopkeepers refused to provide change when offered with higher denomination notes. There were reports that salt has gone out of shelves and shopkeepers are selling it as high as 200 rupees per kg.

Mr Paswan said, the Uttar



Pradesh government should arrest those who have sold salt at inflated rates. He said, Centre has checked the price situation of salt in other states as well. The Minister said, state governments should take immediate action if anyone is selling the commodity at such high rates.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also said, there is no dearth of the commodity and it was adequately available across the state. He directed the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Food) and all District Magistrates to take action against those indulging in hoarding, black marketing and creating artificial scarcity of the commodity, and warned strict action against them.

The Delhi government has also appealed to people not to pay attention to rumours and assured that there is no scarcity of salt.