Consumers body bats for tough action against black marketeers

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Taking advantage of the district administrations' engagement in battling against the pandemic coronavirus, a group of dishonest traders and businessmen have set their own agenda, defying the order to charge the prices of essential commodities fixed by Cachar administration.

The civil supply and consumer affairs department on July 31 walled up list of prices of certain consumers' items in public interest. The traders were notified not to charge more from consumers than the prices fixed.

Price of per kg potato (UP) Rs 28 minimum and Rs 34 maximum, red onion between Rs 28 and Rs 29, sugar Rs 42 and Rs 45 was fixed. Prices of pointed gourd or potol per kg Rs 110 to Rs 120, petite yellow lentils or mung dal Rs 140 to Rs 145, teasle gourd or kakrol Rs 90 to Rs 100 and brinjal Rs 100 were notified.

But consumers today found a different picture in almost all the markets of this town as informed by the Grahak Suraksha Samiti (GSS). The traders, big and small, have been charging more from the consumers than the notified prices. The price of all varieties of fish is beyond the purchasing power of common people.

GSS admits that during this critical time, a group of dishonest businessmen have been ruling the roost and dictating the market prices of different commodities through common mobile network. Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, Keerthi Jally, IAS, has been sincerely meeting the challenge of COVID-19 with her dedicated team of officials of administration and health department along with retinue of health workers.

GSS general secretary Biplob Goswami impresses upon the Deputy Commissioner to initiate toughest of action against the hoarders and black marketers. He also regrets those entrusted with submitting periodical reports about the market prices to the administration are defaulting in their primary duties. The lapses and defaults are telling on common people.

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