Meet brings down rate of wholesale price
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 24 2011: In the backdrop of accusation from cross section of the society on alleged inaction by the Government, a meeting held today between representatives of State Government and business community of Imphal Bazar under the chairmanship of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF & PD) Minister N Biren arrived at an agreement on reducing wholesale rate of some essential commodities.

Besides the Minister, the Government of Manipur was represented at the meeting by the Imphal West Deputy Commissioner K Radhakumar and CAF&PD Director M Yaiskul.

Informing newspersons on the agreement, the CAF & PD Minister said representatives of the Imphal Bazar business community cited increase in transportation charge due to shipment of goods on the comparatively lengthy National Highway-53 for the hike in prices of essential commodities.

(File): Women vendors confront police personnel during an anti-price hike demonstration

Stating that the new wholesale rate will come into effect from tomorrow, he also said traders have been advised to stockpile goods at Silchar in order shorten the distance of procuring the food items.

Urging the general public including the student community to refrain from any activities that could create misunderstanding in view of the agreement reached today, Biren disclosed that police have been instructed to launch a drive for authenticating whether or not cooking (LPG) gas being used in hotels have commercial cards to back such a usage.

He further informed that at present there is kerosine stock of 1299 kilolitres, 948 kilolitres of petrol, diesel 1192 kilolitres and 100.3 metric tonne LPG stock.

As a part of the State Government's effort to ensure availability of essential commodities an official team of CAF&PD left Imphal for Silchar today for bulk procurement of potato, garlic, onion and cereals worth Rs 93 lakhs.

According to a statement issued by CAF&PD Department, transportation charges from Dimapur to Imphal was Rs 2 per kg for any essential commodity which jumped to Rs 6 for the same quantity when the goods were brought on the Silchar-Imphal route of NH-53 since economic blockade came into force on August 1 .

Moreover, transportation charge in between Imphal to Guwahati is in the range of Rs 8 to Rs 10 consequently leading to increase in the prices of essential commodities due to higher rate of transportation charges, the statement maintained while conceding that such a change undoubtedly affected the normal consumers/common people.

It further informed that there can be 10 percent enhancement in prices of goods at outskirts of district headquarters.

The wholesale rates shall be reviewed after 10 days, it added.

Meanwhile, Manipur Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party vice president Prof S Tiken today claimed that its signature campaign against hike in prices of essential commodities covered 45 assembly segments in all the districts, with the exception of Ukhrul and Tamenglong.

Along with 20,000 signatures collected during the campaign, a four point charter of demand would be handed over to the President of India through the Manipur Governor, Tiken said while adding that relevant process for an appointment with Gurbachan Jagat has been initiated.

The charter of demand include proposal for withdrawal of the ongoing economic blockade, ensuring availability of essential commodities including petroleum products at normal rate, initiation of punitive action against the black-marketers and provision for special subsidy of Rs 5000 to every family affected by the economic blockade.