New Delhi, Sept. 2 -- The Centre has halved the stockholding limit for sugar dealers to 2,000 quintals from 4,000 quintals, tightening restrictions on the trade as it seeks to prevent hoarding and speculative buying ahead of the festive season. The new limit will take effect from September 15 and remain in force until November 30, according to an order issued by the consumer affairs ministry on Tuesday. Dealers will also continue to be barred from holding sugar for more than 30 days from the date of receipt. The 4,000-quintal limit, imposed on August 1, was introduced after sugar prices began rising sharply. The Union government has now reduced it further after physical verification of stocks across sugar mills, dealers and traders identified instances of excess holding, non-disclosure and irregularities in the movement and sale of sugar, the ministry said. The government said it has undertaken "intensive monitoring and physical verification of sugar stocks across the country... The exercise has identified instances of excess holding, non-disclosure and irregularities in the movement and sale of sugar stocks." Physical verification "shall continue in the coming weeks", while the government has put in place a mechanism for "regular declaration and updating of sugar stocks through the Department of Food & Public Distribution's online portal". The tighter limit comes even as wholesale sugar prices have started easing following a series of government measures. The ministry said ex-mill prices have declined by around 20% in recent days after interventions aimed at improving market availability and curbing speculative activity. The government will retain the 4,000-quintal limit for dealers in Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas....