10/03/2022 (Times of India) - VIJAYAWADA: Oil traders across the state are looting the public in the name of Russia-Ukraine war. Price of cooking oils increased by 30% in the last ten days putting a huge burden on common man. Raids conducted by vigilance and enforcement authorities and the food safety department have failed to curb the mafia from continuing their malpractices.

Cooking oil is an essential commodity in every kitchen. As per the details available with Smart Pulse Survey, around 12 lakh families live in Krishna district. Around 70 lakh litres of cooking oil is consumed on an average per month in the district. Only 4 to 6 per cent of people are using filtered cold-pressed cooking oils produced locally.

Around 94 per cent of the population in the district are consuming refined cooking oils such as sunflower oil, palm oil and olive pomace oil which are mostly imported from various parts of the world and labelled locally.

Taking advantage of the war situation in Ukraine, oil traders increased the price of cooking oils exorbitantly. Sunflower which was sold in the retail markets for 135 per litre till February 27 is now being sold at 165 per litre.

Traders at gollapudi wholesale market and One Town area are creating shortage of branded oil packets and cans and selling un branded oils at higher prices. “We have found that traders are creating artificial scarcity in the name of war. They are hoaring the stocks of branded oils and are selling local, cheap brands with high MRP. We are collecting the samples of these oils and sending them for quality test. Similarly, we are conducting raids on illegal stocks along with vigilance authorities,” said Poornachandra Rao, regional food safety officer.

Speaking to TOI, additional SP of vigilance and enforcement wing, Vizag, G Swaruparani said they have conducted raids to check hoarding of edible oil by unscrupulous traderd at various place in the city and district.

“We have found that a wholesaler at Narsipatnam in Vizag district illegally stored 47,141 litres of edible oil worth over 50 lakh. The stock was seized and a cases was booked against the accused. We also found that the management of a supermarket at Madhurawada in Vizaq city was charging extra 15 to 20 per litre of branded sunflower oil. We have registered a case against the management. We have been receiving complaints from the consumers that the traders are creating artificial shortage of edible oil abd some traders are selling the edible oil at higher prices citing that there is a demand and supply gap due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis,” the officials added.

The officials said they are chalking out plans to carry out surprise raid on wholesale markets and stores in the coming days to check hoarding of edible oil and other illegal practices of the traders.