CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has imposed stock limits on paddy, rice and pulses to prevent hoarding, ensure fair distribution and maintain the availability of these essential commodities at reasonable prices.
Amid rising prices of rice and other essential commodities, and criticism from the Opposition over the issue, the state government, with the prior approval of the Centre, issued Government Orders specifying stock limits for rice, tur dal and urad dal.
Under the orders, wholesalers can stock up to 2,000 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy and rice, while retailers can hold up to eight tonnes at each outlet.
Mills can hold stocks equivalent to no more than one month's production capacity. For processors, the stock limit has been fixed at 60 per cent of their Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC), multiplied by the number of months remaining until January 2027.
For tur dal and urad dal, the government has set a maximum stock limit of 200 MT for wholesalers for each variety. Retailers can stock up to five tonnes each of tur dal and urad dal.
Mills processing these pulses can hold stocks equivalent to their production over the last three months or 25 per cent of their annual installed capacity, whichever is higher.
Importers of both rice and pulses cannot hold imported stocks for more than 45 days from the date of customs clearance.
The stock control order will remain in force for three months for pulses and until January 31, 2027, for rice, the government said.
The entities covered by the orders must declare their stock positions on the Department of Consumer Affairs' portal. Those holding stocks above the prescribed limits must bring them within the permitted levels by November 16, 2026. Stock details must also be regularly declared and updated on the portal.
An official release on Saturday said a monitoring committee comprising government officials had been formed to oversee the implementation of the stock control measures. The move is aimed at preventing hoarding and black marketing.
The Tamil Nadu Paddy/Rice (Stock Limit) Control Order, 2026, and the Tamil Nadu Tur and Urad Pulses (Storage Control) Order, 2026, will not apply to farmers storing their own produce or selling it.
The state government has appealed to traders, mill owners and the public to cooperate with the measures to ensure that essential commodities remain available to consumers in adequate quantities at fair prices.
People can share relevant information or register complaints through the toll-free numbers 1967 and 1800 425 5901.
On November 7, the Centre had allowed southern states to impose stock limits to prevent hoarding.