Flying squads formed to keep an eye on black marketeers and hoarders

A Correspondent

Hailakandi: Flying squads have been formed to keep an eye on black marketeers and hoarders who are trying to hike the prices of essentials during the lockdown period. An order was issued to this effect by Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli on Monday.

Following reports of hoarding and black marketing received from various sources, the administration constituted a five-member flying squad each for Hailakandi, Lala, Katlicherra and Algapur circles. The flying squads will monitor the prices of essentials in the wholesale and retail grocery shops, control price rise and black marketing. The flying squads will supervise proper sale of essential commodities in the retail and wholesale markets, door-to-door delivery of essential services, monitor lifting and distribution of additional rice by GPSS and FP shops. They will also monitor the lack of sanitation and violation of social distancing norms in the groceries as a means to control the spread of Coronavirus.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr.KS Ahmed, who has been made the overall in charge, will submit the daily status report to the Deputy Commissioner. In another order issued by Jalli on Monday, a district level committee has been constituted headed by District Development Commissioner, Vikram Dev Sarma for procurement of milk, cattle feed, chicken, poultry feed, meat, eggs, and to oversee the status of health of domestic animals during the lockdown period.

Besides, the DDC, the District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Officer is the member-secretary, while veterinary officers, BDOs, head of KVK and inspection officers of Food Civil Supplies and Corporate Affairs are members of the committee.

Meanwhile, a meeting chaired by DDC, Sarma here on Wednesday, decided to go ahead with door-to-door delivery of milk, fish and procurement of livestock feed in strict compliance to all relevant COVID-19 advisories. Around 1209 kg of fish have been sold out from distribution point for door-to-door delivery on Tuesday. The administration is already arranging door-to-door delivery of vegetables through selected hawkers. 31255.45 quintals of rice have been allotted under Antodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Household quota for May. 4443.50 quintals of rice will be distributed among tea garden beneficiaries while 26811.95 quintals to non-tea garden beneficiaries. 96624 litres of blue dyed SK Oil have been allotted for April, May and June for NFSA card holders of urban and rural areas.

Assistant Manager, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Ganesh Choudhury said there is continuous flow of essential commodities to the district during the lockdown period and that the district has enough foodgrain stockpiles to last for at least two months.

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