Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 11, 2010:
As part of the measures being taken up to control the prices of essential commodities, the State Government has reportedly taken up steps to ensure availability of essential items like cereal, salt, cooking oil, etc to the people at cheaper rate.
According to an official source, consequent to the meeting of the Chief Ministers chaired by Prime Minister at New Delhi on February 6, the State Government has taken up steps to ensure availability of cereal, salt and cooking oil at a controlled rate by the people.
As for the rice, it is being made available to the people at Rs 12 per kg as the same is procured by the Government paying high rate.
In connection with ensuring availability of cereal, salt and cooking oil to the people at a controlled rate, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department has tied up with various other Central agencies as well as with the companies at Guwahati for supplying salt.
However, on account of the prevailing law and order situation, many of the non-local businessmen have left Manipur thereby causing difficult to the Government in controlling the prices of goods including essential items in the State.
Failure of the Chambers of Commerce which used to control the prices to function properly is another cause for inability of the Government to control the prices, the source said, adding that apart from monitoring, the Government has not been able to control the price at all.