Prices of essential commodities shoot up
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 07 2023: Most of the shops and street vendors in Imphal and other places have hiked prices of essential items and vegetables as the curfew imposed and the tension see no sign of abating.

Some, not all shops, were seen opened in several localities with people, without any bargain, paying prices asked by the shops.

Prices of many essential items including grain, edible oil, onion, garlic and potatoes etc have been hiked a little more than what it used to cost some 3-4 days ago.

However, with no sign of relief amid the prevailing tense situation, people are thronging these shops and buying whatever little the shops have without any bargaining.

Most of the shops are running low on stocks and many are reluctant to sell as they themselves do not have enough for their own family.

Prices of essential commodities shoot up

While the shops opened do sell most essential items, this reporter came across no shops that sell 20 litre drinking water.

However, some do sell small packaged drinking water of 1/2 litre and 1 litre etc.

While low stock of packaged drinking water is one reason for the shops not selling them, with no prospect of a stable supply chain amid the curfew imposed due to the tension, some shops that do have enough stock are also not selling them for fear that they may run out of them for their own usage.

Unless there is a stable supply chain, the shops may not sell them and people will have no choice but endure.

Also, scarcity of water for daily household usage has also hit the people amid the curfew.

Reports said the price of water has skyrocketed.

It may be mentioned here that before the tension erupted, the State was already facing water scarcity due to scanty rain and drying up of perennial sources.

Meanwhile, street vendors have also hiked the prices of vegetables.

One bundle of mustard leaves is sold at Rs 80 and cucumber is sold at Rs 100 per Kg.

The price of most vegetables have doubled or tripled.

However, people were seen thronging the street vendors and buying the vegetables at inflated prices.

In parts of Imphal, womenfolk were seen vending vegetables brought by vehicles.

A woman named Sasha, who was standing in line among the crowd at a shop said she fears that the situation may become more tense.

"I fear that the situation may become more tense.

With curfew imposed and not many shops opened, we have to buy whatever essential items we can from the shops to survive," she said.

Sasha also said that the prices of the items have been hiked, but they still have to buy them because there are not many shops open.

Another woman who did not wish to be named said that the prices of almost all items have been inflated and she couldn't even afford one kilogram of grain.

One shopkeeper said his shop was running low on stock and there were not many items left to sell.