CM instructs businessmen to sell essential items at pre-blockade prices
State DGP instructed for foolproof security on Imphal-Moreh road
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 28 2011:
With pressures from all sections of the people of the state mounting, the state Chief Minister today reviewed the prices of essential commodities and told the businessmen in Imphal city to sell essential commodities at normal prices which was prevailing prior to the ongoing economic blockades.
The instruction was given during a meeting between the Chief Minister and his council of ministers with business representatives of Imphal city.
SPF spokesperson, IFCD Minister N Biren after the meeting told reporters that the CM enquired about the reason for selling essential commodities at much higher rates when the people of the state are facing a lot of hardships due to the ongoing economic blockades.
After hearing the plight of the businessmen, the CM told them not to sell items at higher rates and that the government is ready to bear the subsidy of transportation, if necessary.
Representatives of businessmen of Imphal city also assured the Chief Minister that they will not sell essential items at higher prices.
As for the subsidy part, the businessman told the CM that there is no question of asking for subsidy when the state is going through such difficult time.
They also requested the CM to provide more security escort on the NH 37.While maintaining that transporters take at least 10 days to bring in goods from Guwahati to Imphal, they told the CM that if the government can reduce the duration to seven days, the issue of price rise can be solve to a large extent.
They also appealed to the CM to open the Imphal-Moreh road to supplement the supply of essential commodities which are coming only through the NH 37 at present, he said.
Agreeing to their requests, the CM also assured more security escort and frequent ferrying of essential commodities on the NH 37.He also instructed the DGP to open the Imphal-Moreh road as soon as possible by providing adequate security measures, Biren said.
While observing the present situation in the Imphal city and other places of the state, the CM appealed to the people of the state not to panic and have any fear of unavailability of essential commodities.
The long queues of vehicles in front of Oil Pumps seemed to have come down from this evening.
The government is doing whatever it can to give relief to the people of the state, he said.