GUWAHATI, May 6 - In view of the rising prices of certain essential commodities in the markets of Guwahati and nearby places, a meeting was held at the Circuit House here today to review the price situation and also look into aspects like availability and supply of items of daily use.
The meeting was chaired by Rajesh Prasad, Commissioner and Secretary of Food and Civil Supply & Consumer Affairs Department of the State Government. The deputy commissioners of Kamrup Metro and Kamrup districts were also present in the meeting.
In his speech, Prasad called upon the Kamrup Chamber of Commerce (KCC) and other traders� associations, Assam Apex Cooperative Marketing and Processing Federation Ltd (Fishfed), Assam State Agriculture Marketing Board and Amar Dukan, among others, to take steps to help the administration in ensuring that prices of essential commodities are maintained at a reasonable level.
Prasad also reviewed the work of Fishfed, Assam State Agriculture Marketing Board and Amar Dukan and stressed upon streamlining their services. He directed Fishfed to increase its number of outlets in Guwahati from five to ten by May 10 and also directed Assam State Agriculture Marketing Board to increase their retail vegetable van numbers from five to ten within that period. Prasad said that the government will write to Indian Oil Corporation to increase the number of LPG outlets in the city.
During the meeting, representatives of consumers� organizations called upon the administration to ensure that retail traders do not overcharge from the buyers and added that regular checking of such establishments should be conducted by officials.
Kamrup Metro Deputy Commissioner Dr M Angamuthu directed the KCC to submit a daily report regarding stock and prices of essential commodities to the district administration.
He also directed the chamber to ensure that all its members adopt the online method to inform the district administration about stock and prices by May 31 and added that non-compliance will lead to cancellation of licences of such establishments. The meet was also attended by officials from various other departments and members of consumer groups.
