Congress hits out at Assam government over price rise of essential commodities

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has alleged that the Assam Government has miserably failed to curb the skyrocketing rise of essential commodities. Addressing the media at Rajiv Bhawan, APCC spokesperson Imdad Hussain said, "In recent times, the price of broilers in West Bengal has been Rs 95 to Rs 105 per kg. But the Assam government has stopped the import of broilers from West Bengal. The broiler price in Assam is Rs 135 to Rs 145 per kg, while wholesalers add the transportation costs along with the profits and sell to retailers for Rs 155 to Rs 165 per kg. The retailers sell broilers at around Rs 190 to Rs 200 per kg, while if the broilers were imported from West Bengal, the price would be Rs 115 to Rs 125, and consumers would buy them at Rs 150 to Rs 160."

Further, Hussain said, "The government has stopped importing the broilers from West Bengal, which in disguise is a better decision for the local farms, but it is not as it is seen as the companies like Prime, Sona, Shaguna, Hybrid, etc. involved in poultry farming in Assam also raise chickens in neighbouring West Bengal. In exchange for broiler rearing, the locals receive only Rs 8 per kg as a profit from these companies, which leads to no benefit for the local people. In such cases, the same companies sell to the wholesalers at around Rs 40 per kg higher in Assam than in West Bengal."

Spokesperson Dr. Sanju Baruah said, "The difference in vegetable prices between Kharupetia and Guwahati varies from 100 to 150 per cent which is unusual. The price at which wholesalers buy vegetables from Kharupetia, if 20 percent is added for profit, 20 percent for transportation costs, and 20 percent for damage, still should not exceed 60 percent. So, in such cases, an increase of 100 to 150 percent is unacceptable."

Also Read:  Assam: Congress Stages Protest Against Skyrocketing Prices in Dibrugarh, Demow

Also Watch: