After sudden rise in the prices of rice across markets of Tripura, the authorities of Sadar (SDM) and the Food and Civil Supply department on Wednesday conducted their raids in the major rice market of Agartala and took appropriate legal action against errant traders.

During the past one month, the prices of different varieties of local rice have abnormally risen and traders are taking prices. As a result, the good quality of local rice is now sold per kilogram in between Rs. 48 to 50, which was Rs. 30 to 32 per kilogram just a month ago.

Official sources said that hoarding by a section of traders despite adequate stocks across the state, especially to control the prices of rice, the authorities of SDM (Sadar) has also sealed a shop of wholesale rice and stopped selling of rice in two shops in MG Bazar area.

Speaking with media persons during the raid at MG Bazar, authorities said that one of the wholesale rice trader identified as Dhijendra Lal Saha has been selling rice without any license and many discrepancies were also noticed by the team during raid and the trader was not maintain his record over purchase and sale rates.

The enforcement team has also visited all wholesale rice shops in Netaji road of MG Bazar and recorded their purchase and sale rates. The team found many traders are taking exorbitant prices over selling of local rice.

Earlier, with the beginning of ongoing Monsoon season, the  Food and Civil Supply department  strictly issued guidelines for regular visit in all markets to control artificial crisis and hoarding of all essential items and as per the decision, the Sadar administration along with Food department officials has continuing  their raids against hoarding at the markets of Agartala city.

But, the prices of rice during the past one month rose abruptly by jumping from Rs. 30 per kilogram to Rs. 48 to 50 per kilogram.

The authorities said that traders purchase rice below Rs. 30 per kilogram through wholesale rates, but they are selling the same at Rs. 45 to 50 per kg, which directly violates the restrictions imposed by the government and they are looting customers.

Authorities added that recently, the state government has noticed prices of a few vegetables including onion have risen abruptly, which causes suffering of common people. “As the rice, potato and onion comes under the Essential Commodity Act, the Food department directly monitoring the wholesale and retail prices of these items,” said the official and added that the prices of onion has raised in its source and after transportation cost, now the wholesale price is Rs. 35 to 37 depend on quality of the products, which is selling in retail market at Rs. 40 per kilogram. But, some traders are also selling onions at Rs. 45 to 50 per kg, which will not be tolerated and the government once again issued strict warnings. Similarly, some traders are responsible for price hikes of local rice and promote hoarding of rice.

He added that due to heavy Monsoon rain, the transpiration of many essential items have affected the present stock across Tripura, which is one of the reasons for high prices of onion, but the local rice are procuring from the state itself and there are no reason  for high price of local variety of rice. He hoped that within the next few days, the prices will come down and people will get some relief.

They said that the department has requested the traders to maintain the prices and should avoid any kind of hoarding of essential items. The Sadar SDM authorities has also strictly warned and said that the government will not tolerate any kind of artificial crisis and hoarding of essential items.