Consumer body questions supply department on onion price

From our Special Correspondent

Silchar, Dec 6: The escalating price of onion has become a tiol phenomenon and the Union Minister of Agriculture, Ram Vilas Paswan, has nothing to do except to admit he has no control over it. The price of onion in the market of Barak Valley is not in any way different. On this issue, a delegation of Grahak Suraksha Samiti (GSS) of Cachar met the Superintendent of Food and Civil Supply, Biru Bora, on Tuesday in his office. It was conveyed to him that a syndicate has been active to control and dictate the market of onions.

According to Biplob Kumar Goswami, general secretary, GSS, the price of onion has shown abnormal rise and a syndicate is ruling the roost in Cachar market. He expressed his deep concern at the way the onion price fluctuates. To explain his point of view, he said it is beyond any plausible explation how the price of onion which was sold at Rs.50 per kg should show an escalation of Rs.80 per kg overnight. For the last three months, onion has been sold at a price of Rs.50 per kg which suddenly took a sudden rise of Rs.80.

 Now, the price per kg onion is pegged at Rs.60 only. Quite strange, on December 2, the price shot up to Rs.80 per kg. This sudden hike virtually came as a great boon to unscrupulous traders who taking advantage of the situation have netted huge profits. It is also puzzling that the food and civil supply department of Cachar is maintaining an intriguing silence over it. Nor is the department taking action against those traders who fleece the consumers. GSS has strongly condemned the dishonest traders and demanded stringent action against them by the food and civil supply department.

 GSS at the same time come out with the suggestion of stringent action against the traders under barb. It has also hit out at the members of the Samiti for indulging in a sort of mudslinging which is highly reprehensible. The GSS has made it quite clear to the officer-in-charge of food and civil supply that the then Chief Minister of the state Tarun Gogoi has directed the civil supply department inspectors to make a study of the weekly markets and submit their report to the proper authority. The market has to be reined in.

 Unfortutely, the members of GSS rue that there is no control over the local market and the very directives of the food and civil supply department in this respect are neglected. It has also been pointed out that the price of Bengal potato in Silchar market is higher than that of Kalain. How can it be possible unless a well organized syndicate operates and dictates the market? Their accusing finger is at food and civil supply department.

 It has been made known to the officials of the food and civil supply department have a nexus with the black marketers and hoarders. GSS has cautioned this kind of nexus, if any, has to be immediately spped. The Samiti, as Goswami outlined, food and civil supply department should take action against dishonest traders. Those present at the meeting with superintendent of food and civil supply department included Dr. Saurindra Kumar Bhattacharjee, advocate Tuhi Sharma, Ashis Choudhury, Parimal Deb, Bagendra Singh, Akmal Ali Barbhuiya, Satyajit Das among others.