Salt price rumours: Govt says no shortage of salt, promises strict action against hoarders

Rubbishing rumours of shortage of salt in the country, the Union government on Friday said there has been no increase in prices of the commodity which is being sold at Rs 14-15 per kg in retail markets. "This is rubbish. There is no truth in this rumour. There is no shortage of salt in the country. On an average, salt prices are ruling at Rs 14-15 per kg same at last year's level. There has not been increase in prices," Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told PTI. Uncessary panic is being spread that salt is being sold at Rs 200 per kg. "Those who have sold at Rs 200, the UP government should take action and arrest them," he said.

Department of Consumer Affairs Government of India have been informed about the rumoured increase in the prices of salt in some parts of the country. The Department monitors the prices of 22 Essential Commodities on daily basis. As per the prices reported by centres from across the country,  there has been no increase in price of salt whatsoever. There has been no report about any disruption in production of salt, its supply and distribution. remaining quantity is for industrial use and exports. Thus, there is sufficient manoeuvrability to meet any unexpected localised shortage, if any. No cause for Panic thus. 

The total production of salt in India, on an average, is about 220 lakh tonnes. Of this, only around 60 lakh tonnes is used for domestic consumption.

If anyone is selling at such high rates in any parts of the country, the state governments should take immediate action, he added. In a series of tweets, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman too said there was no shortage of edible salt. "Baseless rumours being spread. Salt Commissioner & Jt Secretary Shri Raghavendra monitoring the situation. Asst.Salt Commissioners reporting from the field. No shortage. Monitoring will be on-going," she tweeted.

Lack of small denomination currency on Friday triggered rumours of black marketing of essential commodities like salt as shopkeepers refused to provide change when offered with higher denomination notes.

In Uttar Pradesh, there were reports of panicked customers flocking to market as rumours flew thick and fast that salt has gone out of shelves and shopkeepers are selling at a premium -- a high as Rs 200 per kg. Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande said, "There is no truth in this rumour. It is all rumour mongering. There is no problem in supply, distribution and prices of salt in the country."

UP ADG (Law and Order) Daljit Chaudhary promised to take strict action against those spreading rumours and assured people that there was no shortage of salt. Other officials also looked to assure people that salt wasn’t in short supply, and it wouldn’t be sold at a higher rate. The Moradabad DM said: “These are rumours that salt will be sold at higher rates, this led to panic among people today. Salt is not going to be sold even one rupee more than its original rate, so people need not worry.” 

He said that the prices have been ruling stable at Rs 12 per kg in the wholesale markets and Rs 14-15 per kg in retail. Asked if the Centre has spoken on this issue with the UP government, Pande said, "We have spoken to state officials and they too informed us that there is no truth in this rumour. Prices in UP are ruling on an average at Rs 16-17 per kg".

The centre has also checked the price situation of salt in other states as well and there has not been any increase in the rate of the essential commodity. Meanwhile, Delhi government also appealed to Delhiites not to pay attention to rumours of shortage of salt in the city and assured that there is no scarcity of such essential commodity.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said teams of food supply officers and sub-divisional magistrates are rounding city's markets where salt is available in sufficient stock.