GANGTOK, March 20 - The Sikkim Government�s Food and Civil Supplies Department today warned against panic buying and hoarding of essential commodities like rice, oil and pulses in the State in the wake of rising coronavirus cases in the country.
The department assured the people that the State has a sufficient stock of food items to sustain for more than two months and it is being replenished regularly. However, all traders and vendors have been directed to maintain sufficient stocks.
The Union Government has declared masks and hand sanitisers as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This step will empower the State to regulate production, distribution and prices of these items and also to crack down on black marketeers. Violation of any provision of the Act will attract penalties.
Meanwhile, All Sikkim Chemists Association has assured that sufficient masks and hand sanitisers would be available from March 22.
