The Manav Adhikar Suraksha Manch, an anti-privatisation people’s front here wrote a letter to the Ganjam Deputy Collector on Saturday requesting him to curb the rise of prices of essential commodities like vegetables, pulses, rice and edible oil and prevent their adulteration.
In the letter, Manch general secretary Maguni Nahak said Bruhmapur has been on the top in black-marketing and adulteration of commodities. Despite availability of sufficient food items and commodities like pulses, rice and oil, artificial food deficit is being created along with rise in the prices of these products. The traders supply adulterated items in the market.
“Such illegal practices are going on due to the apathetic attitude of the district administration. Despite fall in the VAT, prices of the commodities have remained the same,” pointed out Nahak.
The chemicals being injected into potatoes would pose serious health threat to the people. Why are the potatoes which are not being sold in West Bengal and Cuttack and Bhubaneswar in Odisha due to application of chemicals sold in Brahmapur freely, asked the Manch president. He said the evil practice can be controlled if the administration is vigilant against it.