The issue of price rise in Manipur was discussed on the first day of the three-day winter session of the state Assembly on Wednesday.
Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh informed the Assembly that the state government would coordinate for forming the State Level Price Fixation Committee to check the unwanted price hike of essential commodities in the state.
The chief minister said this in reply to a calling attention motion moved jointly by Opposition members Govindas Konthoujam and Surjakumar Okram over the escalating prices of essential commodities and shortage of petroleum products in the state.
N Biren Singh said the government acknowledges the fact that the people have been suffering due to the price rise of essential commodities in the last few days.
He said due to the law and order situation outside the state, there have been issues in the transportation of goods including petroleum products.
But steps have been taken for the free flow of the supply of goods, he said.
He informed that 123 good trucks including 25 petrol, 42 diesel, and 63 LPG-laden trucks have moved towards Imphal from Jiribam on Wednesday morning.
The chief minister also informed that 82 percent of the state’s population has been covered under the National Food Security Act.
He said due to deficient monsoon this year, the production of food grains in the state has decreased and therefore additional quota of food grains have been sought for distribution under the Targeted Public Distribution System.
As the state government announced a drought-like situation in the state, the central government officials have visited the state and assessed the situation.
A proposal for allocation of Rs 151 crore has been sent and Rs 9.9 crore has already been sanctioned.
Compensation to the affected farmers will be distributed in a transparent manner and steps have been taken for cropping in the ensuing Rabi season.
The agriculture department has proposed for allocation of Rs 12 crore, of which Rs 6 crore has been sanctioned by the planning department and the distribution of (rabi crops) seeds have been started.
Earlier, expressing the need to take appropriate steps to check price rise and shortage of petroleum products besides taking up stringent action, MLAs Govindas and Surjakumar urged the government to maintain mandatory stocks of petrol (for 18 days) and diesel (for 23 days) at Malom depot.
Only 18 ruling MLAs including the chief minister and the ministers were present in the day’s Assembly session.