In continuation of the drive against hoarding of essential food items and vegetables, specially to control the soaring prices of onions across markets of the capital city, the authorities of Sadar (SDM) and the Food and Civil Supply department on Thursday has also conducted their raids in many markets of Agartala and take appropriate legal action against errant traders.

Official sources said that hoarding by a section of traders despite adequate stocks across the state, especially to control the prices of onion, the authorities of SDM (Sadar) has also sealed a shop of potatoes and onions at Battala market for taking extra prices on onion.

Speaking with media persons during the raid at Battala market, authorities said that one of the vegetable trader identified as Ratan Datta has also not been updated his weighing machine and without the seal of the Legal Meteorology department accused the trader of selling onions and potatoes.

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.

The authorities said that traders purchase onion at Rs. 36 per kilogram through wholesale rates, but they are selling the same at Rs. 45 per kg, which directly violates the restrictions imposed by the government and they are looting customers.

They added that on Thursday afternoon, the Director of the Food department, Nirmal Adhikari, also attended another meeting with the traders of all major markets of the state capital and urged them to maintain the prices of wholesale and retail.

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 has been continued.

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. 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.

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 some errant traders.

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