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 administration on Thursday started their regular  drive against hoarding of essential items at all major markets of the capital city.

As per the decision of the state government during a meeting with the leaders of all merchant associations of Agartala city based wholesale and retail markets along with all officials of Food department and other administration officials held on Wednesday, the  Food and Civil Supply Minister Sushanta Chowdhury strictly issued guidelines for regular visit in all markets to control artificial crisis and hoarding of all essential items and as per the decision, since Thursday morning, the Sadar administration along with Food department officials launched their raids against hoarding at the markets of Durga Chowmuhani, Lake Chowmuhani, Battala Bazar and MG Bazar.

It may be recalled here that with the onset of Monsoon season and after blockade of national highway at Meghalaya portion due to land sliding and incessant rains for past few days, large-scale of artificial crisis has been reported from many markets of Agartala city along with hoarding of essential items.

Despite,  state having sufficient days of stock of all essential items, the government has launched their anti-hoarding drives across all markets.

Earlier, on Wednesday the Food and Civil Supply Minister strictly warned and said that  the government will tolerate any kind of artificial crisis and hoarding of essential items.

With the beginning of Monsoon season, there is no situation for panic over availability of all essential food items and fuel products, but a section of errant traders started their rampant hoarding across the state, despite repeated appeals from government to maintain the normal prices.

On Thursday, a jumbo team of Sadar administration staff, Food department authorities along with police personnel raided many wholesale and retail shops in Agartala markets and noticed many discrepancies over prices of essential items and the team has also caught red handed some errant traders taking extra prices from common customers.

 The team has issued notices to some errant traders, who are not maintaining proper distribution systems and are not also maintaining the prices of edible essential items in both wholesale and retail markets.

During the raids, speaking with media persons Food Inspector Pradip Bhowmik said that despite repeated appeals and numbers of meetings with traders, many traders were still taking exorbitant prices.

He said that on Thursday, the administration issued notices to some errant traders and strictly warned them. Bhowmik added that their surveillance teams will continue their monitoring in all markets and if the traders are taking extra prices, then the department will seal their shops or will take legal action as per the law.

The teams also monitored whether the shopkeepers are maintaining the norms for purchase and sale of stocks with rates.

Bhowmik said that since the beginning of Monsoon season the prices of all necessary items are being artificially hiked by some errant traders for hoarding. ‘Our teams monitor each and every shop of the markets and review the wholesale and retail prices’, said Bhowmik adding that there are many discrepancies  in prices of wholesale and retail, but the situation of the entire market is under control.

He said that a section of traders are creating artificial crises in the market by hiking prices of rice and other edible items for their own interest and creating a panic in the markets.

 He said that strict warning has been given to all errant traders and if they do not take proper measures to sell their goods, then administration will impose Disaster Management Act and will take action as per the law.

There are no shortages of any essential items and all items are available in the markets, said Bhowmik, adding that stringent legal action would be taken against errant traders if they noticed any artificial crisis in the market or exorbitant rates.