Lucknow, Dec 19 : To check rising prices in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Saturday issued a stern warning to hoarders, a day after she asked the authorities to run mobile shops to sell basic food items at controlled rates.

Following her instructions, Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta Friday promptly convened a video-conference call of all divisional commissioners and district magistrates, directing them to ensure that hoarding of essential commodities was not allowed at any cost.    

Principal Secretary (Food and Civil Supplies) Jacob Thomas said: "If necessary, we will import of pulses."    

"While a special team has already been formed to keep a watch on the market trends, we are also taking certain measures to bring down the market price of all essential food items," he added.    

Even as the exercise commenced from the state capital Friday, a difference of about 20 percent was already visible between the prices fixed by the state-run Essential Commodities Corporation and the prevailing price of essential goods in the open market.    

For instance, arhar dal selling in the open market at Rs. 90-95 a kg, was priced at Rs. 74 in the government-run shops, while sugar was priced at Rs. 34 against Rs. 40 in the open market. Similarly, the price of potatoes was fixed at Rs. 9.50 a kg against the prevailing market price of Rs. 12-14. (IANS)