Concerned over rising prices of essential commodities in the city, East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Amitabh Kaushal has directed Dhalbhum SDO Prem Rajan, who is also the chairman of the Krishi Utpad Bazaar Samiti (KUBS), to ensure that onion and potatoes price are stabilised soon.
“We are going to maintain a strict vigil on the rising prices. The SDO will also be holding meeting with the traders for arranging sale of these products at lower rates in different markets of the city,” said the Deputy Commissioner.
In other decisions at a meeting held on Friday, in view of the sharp price rise of onion and potatoes, it was also decided to open 20 Suvidha Centres across the city where onions and potatoes will be sold at only Rs 1 and Rs 2 more than the wholesale rate. There will be restriction on purchase from these centres and one person on a day can purchase only up to 3 kg.
The decision was taken after traders under the aegis of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Thursday staged protest at district collectorate over large difference in wholesale and retail prices of essential commodities especially onion and potato in city.The traders blamed the retailers for the increase in prices of onion and potatoes and sought administration’s immediate intervention in regulating sale of onion and potatoes to prevent price rise.
“The situation is serious. The wholesale traders conduct their trade through Krishi Utpad Bazaar Samiti (KUBS), functioning under Jharkhand State Agricultural Marketing Board (JSAMB) at Parsudih. There is no scope of hoarding, as is generally believed,” said Bharat Vasani, vice-president (trade and commerce) SCCI.A delegation of SCCI led by president Suresh Sonthalia later met East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal and informed about the sharp difference in prices of onion and potatoes at wholesale market in KUBS and retail market.
Onion is available at between Rs 22-24 per kg from KUBS and sold at between Rs 28-30 per kg in market while potato is available at between Rs 14-15 at KUBS and sold at between Rs 20-22 per kg in market. The East Singhbhum district administration has decided to charge ground rents on melas, exhibitions, and entertainment programs held at public grounds like Gopal Maidan (Bistupur), Aam Bagan ground (Sakchi), G Town ground (Bistupur), Kadma Ganesh Puja ground (Kadma), and others.
The decision taken at the three-hour long district internal resource and revenue meeting chaired by East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal at the district collectorate today will add to the financial expenses of the organisers in organising industrial trade fairs, exhibition, fairs, entertainment programmes. The amount to be levied for ground rents will be decided by the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC).