DCs asked to launch massive crackdown
Concerned over the steep rise in prices of essential commodities, particularly the vegetables, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjaya Kumar Das Burma on Tuesday asked his departmental authorities to launch a crackdown on the hoarders and black marketers.
Talking to newsmen after reviewing the price situation of essential commodities, particularly potato and onion, Das Burma said that there was neither a shortage, nor reduction of import of potato and onion to the State. Stating that as many as 3,000 tons of potato and 1,000 tons of onion are reaching the State every day, the Minister attributed the soaring price of the two most essential vegetables in the State to hike in their prices at the production and marketing points.
However, Das Burma said that the Government had taken a number of steps to deal with the crunch situation and would ensure the availability of potato and onion to the consumers at reasonable price. “This is a nationwide phenomenon and not limited to Odisha,” he clarified.
The Minister said that the concerned officials of his department and the district Collectors had been instructed to check hoarding and black marketing of the two produce and ensure that the ceiling of the profit margin of the wholesalers and retailers as announced by the Government was maintained. No traders should sell potato and onion deviating the ceiling on profit margins, he said, adding that while the profit margin of the potato should be around Rs 2.50 to Rs 3.50 per kg, in case of onion, the profit margin is fixed between Rs 3.50 to Rs 4 a kg.
Admitting that there had been a gap between the production and demand in the State, the Minister said that while the availability of onion and potato was around three lakh and ten lakh tons, the State Government had already extended the potato and onion cultivation to six lakh hectares. The Government has plans to create storage facility for conservation of potato and onion to meet the demand and make sure that their prices remain stable at the peak period, he said.
Das Burma said that in an attempt to meet the price line, the Government had decided to withdraw the collection of RMC fees at the check gates.
Among others, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Secretary Madhusudan Padhi, Cooperation Secretary Bishnupada Sethi, Agriculture Secretary Rajesh Burma and the Horticulture Director and senior officials attended.