Prantiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, Uttarakhand has strongly objected the State Government’s decision to include 43 items into Essential Commodities Act 2013, which made mandatory to the traders to display their stock on the board outside their outlets or godown, says that this will only promote inspector Raj.
They also alleged that State has taken this decision to check price rise but this will promote price hike. As part of protest they had close down their shutters for few hours on Saturday. They warned the State Government to withdraw the decision otherwise they may keep their shutter down for indefinite periods in coming days. Talking to The Pioneer its Executive President Umesh Aggrawal said that in 1996 such order was imposed over the traders to dissuade stocking and later it was dissolved automatically.
As you know that hilly businessmen collect their consignment either from Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Haldwani and Ramnagar. In view of tough geographical condition traders have to stock commodities for next four to six month. As per the new decision traders can’t stock more than 10 quintal in their shops or godown. It means if road closed then local people would not get ration at their nearby shops because the would not be able to purchase the stock from wholesale market. As we know that Uttarakhand is consumer State so traders import as per their requirement only. Such law would be beneficial in producing State.
As per the law if traders caught having commodities more than the permissible amount then he will have to face jail. State Government has included wheat, rice oil, pulse and sugar under essential commodities act. They are apprehensive that by putting this law Government may harass the traders in future. Aggrawal further alleged that the decision was taken by the State Government to appease their party high command. He appealed to the State Government to review the decision because it would promote price rise because traders would not be able to stock these commodities and ultimately scarcity would prevail.
As we know that if demand more than the supply then price would go up and if demand less than supply then price would go down. As per the new law traders would not have sufficient stock to meet the demand and prices would go up. He further said that currently he has appealed the business community to be united against the black law, which is being imposed by the State.
He reiterated that their association would fight unless and until Government withdraw the decision. To finalise future course of action they have called Doon Industrial trade union meeting in Dehradun on January 5 and later they would have similar meeting at district level on January 6. later they would burn the effigy of State Government as part of State wide protest on January 8 and submit memorandum to the State Government through local administration.