Assam agriculture and veterinary minister Atul Bora on Saturday said there is no shortage of essential commodities in the state.
Minister Bora also said trucks with essential commodities are on the way to the state to maintain the supply chain of food.
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Bora along with food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury and Assam Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami on Saturday reviewed the situation of Jorhat district in view of the ongoing lockdown.
The two ministers and the Speaker, who is also the Jorhat MLA, held a meeting with senior officials of the district administration, police and food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, and veterinary departments and Food Corporations of India (FCI) at the Jorhat Circuit House.
During the meeting the ministers took note of the food stock position of people and livestock in the district.
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Addressing the media at Jorhat Circuit House, Bora, accompanied by Choudhury and Goswami, said goods trains were running regularly carrying all essential commodities to Assam from outside the region.
Bora also said there are sufficient stocks of essential items including food stuff for livestock in the state.
Bora further said about 400 trucks, loaded with essential commodities, are on the roads heading towards Assam.
He said traders in the districts have been directed to keep stocks of essential commodities for a month.
Bora said the farmers would be allowed to resume their cultivation activities by following all precautionary and safety measures under the Covid-19 protocol with social distancing to be maintained mandatorily.
He said all welfare schemes of the Assam government would continue to extend assistance to the farmers in the coming days.
Providing seeds, power-tillers and financial aid would continue, Bora said, adding that 4 lakh farmers, out of a selected 6 lakh farmers have already been given Rs 2,500 each as first instalment under a scheme.
The remaining two lakh farmers will receive the money in their bank accounts soon, said Bora.
The agriculture minister also said later all the six lakh farmers will be given another Rs 2,500 each as the second instalment.
Minister Choudhury said the government is keeping a close watch on the situation on a daily basis and if anyone is found hoarding materials and charging exorbitant prices would be dealt as per relevant provisions of law.
Choudhury said the Golaghat district administration recently sealed four retail shops selling essential items after getting complaints of over-pricing and further legal action is being taken.
The minister also said all LPG agencies have been asked to provide home delivery service of cylinders and any agency not adhering to the direction should be brought to the notice of the district administration, the minister added.