Bhubaneswar: At a time when the State is facing a crisis in wake of consecutive floods, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department is being vigilant about any form of hoarding of essential commodities.
In a letter to Collectors, FS & CW Department Secretary Vir Vikram Yadav instructed the former to keep a tab on the prices of essential commodities in prevailing flood situation across the State.
Due to floods the prices of essential commodities may go up as there will be disruption in communication and in arrival of essential commodities in the State. It may lead to a gap between the demand and supply of the essential commodities, Yadav’s letter read.
“Taking advantage of such situation, the unscrupulous traders may resort to hoarding and creating artificial scarcity in the market. In order to check hoarding, spiraling food prices and price rise of essential commodities,” he stated.
Yadav has directed Collectors to keep close watch on the availability and arrival of essential commodities in the market and ensure the availability of the same to the consumers at a reasonable price.
“If required, action may be taken against the hoarders and unscrupulous traders under the provisions of the E.0 Act.,1955. Action taken in the matter may be intimated to this Department for information of the Government,” he said.
