DOOMDOOMA, March 26 - To ensure availability of essential commodities during the 21-day lockdown period, the Tinsukia district administration has allowed all shops and establishments excluded from the lockdown, such as PDS, grocery stores, general provisions stores, vegetable, fruit, fish, meat, eggs, bread, milk stores, LPG distribution agencies, petrol pumps, petroleum and gas retail to operate between 8 am to 4 pm daily, stated an order issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner Pranabjyoti Kakoti.
The order stated that any trader found indulging in hoarding of essential commodities and charging higher prices will attract strict actions as per law. Besides, any violation of this order will invite punitive action as per law, the order added.
Meanwhile, police had to use baton in some places to ward off people who defied the lockdown on roads and market areas in the first two days of the lockdown.
On the other hand, taking advantage of the lockdown, a section of traders have increased prices of essential commodities by up to 20-30 per cent.
Doomdooma, the �Tea City� of Assam, wore a deserted look on the first two days of the lockdown. The poor people, especially those who earn their livelihood on daily wage, are the worst sufferers. Journalist and social activist Arjun Baruah has urged the government to take some immediate relief measures for these people.
Meanwhile, joint teams of the Doomdooma Municipal Board and the State Fire and Emergency Service Station, Doomdooma carried out sanitisation drives at various places of the tea town on Wednesday afternoon.
