Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday urged the traders’ bodies in the state to take steps to control the prices of essential commodities in the wake of 21-day lockdown.
Taking advantage of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, declared as a preventive measure to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, a section of unscrupulous traders has allegedly hiked prices of essential commodities.
Sonowal held a discussion with representatives of Kamrup Chambers of Commerce and Wholesale Marketing Board for Vegetables at Janata Bhawan to discuss the issue.
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The Assam chief minister urged the trader bodies to take adequate steps for control of prices so that the common people do not have to suffer during the lockdown period.
He also agreed to depute an officer of the food & civil supplies and consumer affairs department to coordinate with the Chamber of Commerce to deal with issues regarding availability of stock and settling other issues.
The chief minister also asked the deputy commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) and the commissioner of police, Guwahati to take necessary steps for ensuring smooth transportation of vegetables to Guwahati from nearby districts as requested by the Wholesale Marketing Board.
The chief minister said the state government has taken all needful measures to ensure the availability of essential commodities and services during the 21-day lockdown period in the state so that people of the state do not have to face any problem.
He also urged the trader bodies to look at the present situation from a humanitarian point of view and extend support with the government in easing out woes of the public.