KARACHI: The Indian Government has directed the states to issue notifications under the Defence of India Rules compelling food grain consumers, producers and dealers to declare stocks in excess of a particular quantity, the “Indian Express” reported yesterday.

The Indian Food Minister, Mr C. Subramanian, on Monday [July 27], announcing a number of measures in New Delhi to fight the rising food prices and ease the critical situation, said an ad hoc committee would be set up to fix prices of food grains for the coming season.

He also said that a technical team would be constituted to make a detailed and scientific study of the question of production costs.

President Radhakrishnan described the soaring prices as “a great menace” to the country, the “Times of India” reported yesterday.

Dr Radhakrishnan, who was inaugurating a symposium on “Science and the Nation” in New Delhi on Monday, said: “We have this great menace today of rising food prices. People tell me … there are enough food grains even today … and if we know how to get rid of people who are … blocking their free spread and distribution, it will be possible for us to feed our people....”

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2014