Nashik: Govt to suspend licenses of 'on indefinite strike' onion traders

The Maharashtra government has ordered the suspension of licenses as a response to the indefinite strike by onion traders in Nashik district protesting against the recent hike in export duty on onions by the Union government The move has raised concerns about a potential scarcity of onions in retail markets and an increase in pricesThe Nashik District Onion Traders Association NDOTA has halted onion auctions in all agriculture produce market committees APMCs across the district They are demanding the cancellation of the export duty a 50 per cent reduction in market fees and other concessions The government has warned of legal action if APMCs fail to complyTaking serious cognisance the District Subregistrar Cooperative Societies on Wednesday night issued an order directing all APMCs to suspend or cancel the licences of the striking traders and submit the Action Taken Report on September 21In protest against the export duty hike decision we have decided to shut the auction of onions in all APMCs in the district indefinitely This export duty hike decision of the Centre will not only make export of onions difficult but it will also affect the onions in transit causing huge loss to farmers the officebearer saidEarlier on Wednesday Maharashtra marketing minister Abdul Sattar said that observing a bandh shutting auctions of onions was not rightAlso read Mumbai Heavy vehicles barred from plying on Oshiwara bridgeSecretaries in the departments of cooperation and marketing will discuss the action to be taken as per rules and Nashik district collector will take the necessary action he said on the sidelines of an eventNotably auctions of onions remained closed at most of the APMCs in Nashik district including at Lasalgaon the largest wholesale onion market in India on August 20We had given time till September 19 to the government to find a solution to our demands But as our demands are not agreed to yet we have decided to shut the auction of onions indefinitely the officebearer saidThe other demands raised by traders include the cancellation of export duty on onions a 50 per cent reduction in market fees participation by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India NAFED and National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India NCCF in auctions and a 50 per cent subsidy in transport of onionsAccordingly onion auctions did not take place in all APMCs in Nashik district on Wednesday including in the Lasalgaon APMC No onions arrived at APMCs sources saidThe government order mentions that Khandu Deore president of Nashik District Onion Traders Association had written a letter on September 13 to minister Sattar mentioning four demands and warning of not participating in onion auctions from September 19Accordingly the minister has organized a meeting of officials of the Marketing department on September 26The minister also requested the traders to defer the agitation Despite that the traders and brokers resorted to strike which has caused many problems for farmers in the sale of various agri produce the order saidEven in the meeting held by the government on Wednesday Sep 20 the traders and brokers remained adamant on their stand As a result the order of immediate legal action has been issued it saidAccordingly as per the Maharashtra Agriculture Produce Marketing Development and Regulation Act 1963 all the APMCs should make optional arrangements and take necessary measures to continue the sale and purchase deals of agri produceAPMCs have the right to suspend or cancel the licenses of such traders As per the provision the APMCs should immediately suspend or cancel the licenses of such traders In addition a necessary process should be implemented to issue licenses to new buyers who want to purchase goods at the APMCs the order saidIf an APMC fails to follow the order action will be taken against the board of directors and the secretary the order added