After getting written assurance from the State Government that their demands would be reconsider, the traders on Sunday announced to
suspend their strike till May 26.
The Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Associations (FAOTA) had stopped import of essential
commodities like pulses, wheat, wheat products and edible oils from other States from April 1 demanding withdrawal of the five-per cent value added tax (VAT) on these items.
FAOTA general secretary Sudhakar Panda said that they decided to suspend the strike after getting a written
assurance from the Chief Secretary and also the intervention of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
“We have decided to suspend our import ban till May 26. However, we will reconsider our options if the Government doesn’t take any action by that time,” said Panda after a general body meeting of the trader’s association here.
He further said, “It will take three to four days for the imports to be normal. We have sufficient stock of essential commodities and the consumers shouldn’t worry.”
He, however, said that there had been a minor price rise of certain commodities such as Palmolin oil, sugar, etc., and urged the consumers to
crosscheck the price with the association’s bulletins everyday and report cases of overpricing to the Government and the association.
Notably, Panda after a meeting with Finance Minister Pradeep Amat on Saturday had hinted that the association would call off its import ban of essential food items.