locals resort to panic buying; potato goes scarce
With the prediction of Hudhud cyclone, the horrific memories of the Super Cyclone in 1999 and Phailin last year have begun to haunt the denizens of this coastal district here. The Super Cyclone alone had killed hundreds of people and domestic animals and damaged properties worth crores of rupees.
Keeping in view the vulnerability of the district to the natural calamities especially cyclone, the district Collector here has sounded a high alert and asked all the officials of the district to be ready to face the situation.
The Met department has given a warning that a depression over north-Andaman Sea was gradually taking the form of a cyclone and would be heading towards the Andhra and Odisha coasts.
It also has said that the storm could be of high intensity and be potentially offensive for Odisha. There could be very heavy rainfall and high velocity wind blowing when the cyclone has a landfall in the Odisha coast, it said. The district administration has warned the fishermen not to venture into sea. The District Magistrate has also cautioned all the PRI representatives of sea side Rajnagar and Mahakalpada blocks comprising cyclone prone areas Satabahaya, Ramnagar, Kharnashi and Batighar to remain alert and stock enough food grains and other materials for relief and rescue measures.
Even the district administration has made necessary arrangements in the cyclone shelters located in the coastal pockets of Rajnagar and Mahakalapada for arranging shelters for the victims in the event the cyclone hits the State.
The Tehsildars of Rajnagar and Mahakalapada have been asked to keep a close eye on the situation, informed Sub Collector Pratap Kumar Mishra.
On the other hand, there was much panic buying at different places in the district. Most grocery shops witnessed huge rush as people huddled to purchase flattened rice, kerosene, gur, candle, potato, onion and cooking gas to store for the exigency period. The shopkeepers were also taking advantage of the situation. They were selling the essential commodities by hiking their prices.
There was also a shortage of potato in Kendrapara headquarters town on Wednesday, while at some place the potato was selling at Rs 30-Rs 35 per kg.
“If cyclone hits the coastal district, then the district administration will provide free kitchen to the affected people. Nearly 12,448 quintals of rice are available with the district administration whereas the Civil Supply Department has already stocked rice at each distribution points for the BPl,APl and Antodaya beneficiaries for the October month. Apart from the stock, steps have been taken to collect 20,000 quintals of rice more,” informed Civil Supply Officer (CSO) RamchandraSahu.
District Collector Pramod Kumar Das informed that he had directed all the Tehsildars to constitute a committee and conduct raids in potato godowns to stop hoarding and ensure that the tuber price was stable and not to allow traders to take undue advantage.