GUWAHATI, March 24 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the Supply Department to strengthen the supply chain to ensure smooth delivery of essential commodities during the lockdown period in the State necessitated by novel corona virus outbreak.
In a meeting with the Supply Department which was also attended by Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs Minister Phani Bhusan Chowdhury and Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Chief Minister Sonowal asked the Supply and Transport Departments to work in unison to strengthen the existing supply chain to make essential food stuff available to the consumers. He also said that since lockdown concept is very new to the State, special care should be taken on the part of both Supply and Transport Department to work together to address any shortfall of supply.
He also asked the Additional Chief Secretary Food and Civil Supply Department Syedain Abbasi to keep a close vigil on the market with his men to identify unscrupulous elements which taking advantage of the situation may indulge in hoarding and create artificial shortages of essential commodities. He also asked the department to have a watch on the market so that prices of essential commodities can be controlled.
Sonowal emphasized on ensuring adequate supply of all essential commodities in every nook and corner of the State. He asked Abbasi to hold a meeting with the NF Railway to streamline the movement of goods trains in the State. He also directed Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna and DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta to have joint video conference with the DCs and SPs on a daily basis to assess ground situation.
