"There are reports that the traders have called for excess stock of sugar, especially, in the backdrop of sugar mills and the cane crop doing badly during the past drought situation. The new harvest will take long time and thereafter only there will be the crushing season. So the traders are likely to go in for excess stocks of sugar which might grow costlier in due course," a senior officer from the administration said adding that the traders have therefore been warned.

The wholesaler can stock upto 5,000 quintal of sugar for 30-day period and the retailer can stock up to 500 quintal of sugar for30-day period. If the stock of sugar during inspection exceeded the quota, the guilty would be tried under the various laws governing food and civic supplies, the food and civic supplies department has said.