In order to control the high inflation of essential items across markets of the capital city and hoarding by a section of traders despite adequate stocks across the state, the Food and Civil Supply department and local administration on Friday conducted raids  against hoarding of essential items including onion at MG Bazar in Agartala.

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 with the, the Sadar administration along with Food department officials has continuing  their raids against hoarding at the markets of Agartala city.

But, the prices of onion during the past fortnight rose abruptly by jumping from Rs. 25 per kilogram to Rs. 45 to 50 per kilogram.

On Friday, a joint team of the Food and Civil Supply department, Sadar SDM and Legal Meteorology department launched their raid at the main wholesale market of Agartala to check the prices of onion, potato and vegetables. The team led by the Director of Food department, Nirmal Adhikari visited the wholesale and retail markets for onion, potatoes and vegetables and they verified the stocks of traders, wholesale and retail rates with checking of purchase and sale vouchers.

Later, speaking with media persons, the Director of Food department Nirmal Adhikari said that their regular drives in all major markets of the state capital with the teams of Sadar-SDM and Legal Meteorology department to check the prices of all essential commodities.

He said 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 potato and onion comes under the Essential Commodity Act, the Food department directly monitoring the wholesale and retail prices of both items,” said Adhikari 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.

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. He hoped that within the next few days, the prices will come down and people will get some relief.

Adhikari said that the department has requested the traders to maintain the prices and should avoid any kind of hoarding of essential items.

He said that exorbitant prices of green chilies have been monitored by the Agriculture department and hoped that the department will take appropriate steps to control the prices.

During the raids, the team has found discrepancies over the rates of wholesale and retail of essential items and issued warning against errant traders.

Adhikari also strictly warned and said that the government will tolerate any kind of artificial crisis and hoarding of essential items.

He said that the team will inspect all the major markets of Agartala city and the department is committed to ensure the protection of all consumers. He added that all the stocks essential items are in adequate number and functioning of national highways is also normal, despite that a section of traders are creating artificial crises in the market for their personal gain. But, the department will not tolerate such kind of hoarding and will take steps as per rules and regulations.