Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Centre-State Drive Targets Sugar Hoarding Across West Bengal
Officials in West Bengal are checking markets because sugar and some other food prices have increased.
They want to find out whether anyone is hiding supplies or charging unfair prices.
Police and government teams are inspecting shops, warehouses and markets.
These checks are happening in Kolkata and many districts.
Officials are looking at stock records, buying prices and selling prices.
They are also checking whether supplies meant for the Public Distribution System are being sold illegally.
The government plans at least 1,000 inspections and raids.
People found hoarding or black-marketing goods may be punished.
West Bengal has launched a coordinated Centre-state enforcement drive against sugar hoarding, price manipulation and black marketing.
Authorities have activated enforcement networks across 72 subdivisions and 35 police commissionerates.
The administration is targeting at least 1,000 inspections and raids to identify stockpiling and supply-chain leakages.
Ten Enforcement Branch teams are conducting surprise checks at wholesale and retail markets across Kolkata.
District officials are monitoring sugar, rice, edible oil and other essentials, with enforcement continuing statewide.
- Who
- The West Bengal state administration, Enforcement Branch teams, police commissionerates and district officials.
- What
- A coordinated enforcement drive against sugar hoarding, black marketing, price manipulation and diversion of essential commodities.
- When
- The drive began within 24 hours of the Chief Minister’s warning and expanded from Tuesday morning.
- Where
- Across West Bengal, including Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, North Bengal, Burdwan, Habra and North 24 Parganas.
- Why
- To identify supply-chain leakages, prevent artificial shortages and contain rising prices of sugar and other essential commodities.
- Inspection target
- At least 1,000 inspections and raids
- Administrative coverage
- 72 subdivisions and 35 police commissionerates
- Kolkata deployment
- Ten special Enforcement Branch teams
- Markets inspected
- Kole Market, Shyambazar, Garia Bazaar and Jadu Babur Bazar
- Commodities monitored
- Sugar, rice, edible oil, garlic and other essential commodities
- Records checked
- Stock registers, purchase and sale records, dealer rate charts and storage facilities
- Enforcement concern
- Possible diversion of Public Distribution System commodities to the open market