GUWAHATI, July 7 - Barely three days after issuing a rate chart for vegetables, the Food and Civil Supplies department on Tuesday had to effect changes in the entire price list of vegetables to be sold on Wednesday during the ongoing lockdown in Kamrup Metro district.
The changes were made after vendors dealing in vegetables were seen charging prices higher than what had been specified in the price list.
While the vendors reasoned that it was virtually impossible for them to sell the items at the rates fixed by the government, consumers took potshots at the government for not being able deliver what it had promised.
Scouting for a solution, a meeting held between the Food and Civil Supplies department and the Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board on Tuesday revised the prices of vegetables for the second time, hiking the prices of all the items by at least 10 per cent.
The meeting decided that the vehicles carrying vegetables will assemble in as many as 133 locations covering 31 wards of the city and the vehicles will then go from door to door.
Minister Pijush Hazarika visited Fancy Bazar and Panjabari on Tuesday to take stock of the situation. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation also inspected Narengi, Noonmati, Bamunimaidam Railway Colony, Fatasil, Athgaon and Maligaon areas and seized 108 kgs of vegetables and 25 kg poultry, which were being sold illegally in these areas.
�During the inspection, roadside vending of vegetables, fruits and poultry was seen violating the government order and the items were seized immediately. The seized items were distributed to shelter houses,� according to a GMC statement.
Reportedly, 40 trucks carrying vegetables were on Tuesday stopped by police at Jorabat. The police will allow the trucks to enter the city on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, a large number of residents hailing from different areas of the city complained that they had to purchase egg plates at much higher rates.
Unscrupulous grocery retailers were on Tuesday charging Rs 200 per plate of eggs by telling the customers that they are suffering losses due to broken eggs handed over to them by wholesalers of the city.