No shortage of salt in any state of country, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday dismissed canard about shortage of salt in the country as "concocted rumours" and stressed adequate quantity is available in every state.

"Some people are spreading irresponsible rumours, like it happened yesterday regarding salt. It is there in adequate quantity in every state," he told reporters here.

He said that some of these rumours started on day one of the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

"These are all concocted rumours," he said, adding statements like some people were aware of the demonetisation earlier tantamount to "taking liberty with truth".

The Commerce and Industry Ministry too has dismissed the rumours of shortage of salt in the market.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), which comes under the Ministry, in a series of tweets said there is sufficient stock of salt in the country.

"Do not panic, plenty of edible salt stocks are available in North Eastern States, Bihar and West Bengal. Say No To Rumours!," it said.

Salt produced at Nawa and Phalodi from Rajasthan is supplied to Delhi.

"Refined salt is available in market at the rate of Rs 8-18 as per brand. Adequate edible salt has been supplied to Delhi & NCR areas by salt producers from Santalpur and Kharaghoda from Gujarat. There is no scarcity in Delhi," it added.

Salt producers and suppliers from Tamil Nadu confirmed that there is no scarcity of salt in the entire state, DIPP said, adding "no scarcity of salt and it is sold at normal rates in West Bengal".

Adequate salt has been produced, stocked and being supplied in Gujarat, which produces 75 per cent total salt in India.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that "authorities are in the field and reporting back. No shortage".                

Rumours about shortage of salt triggered panic among people in areas like Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi and Maharashtra.