Raniganj: The common people are gasping for breath due to the unchecked hike in the prices of essential commodities. Especially, the price of sugar has reached extreme levels. Sugar, which was sold at just 45 to 50 rupees per kilo in the market a few days ago, has now jumped to 65 to 70 rupees. Not just sugar, but with the sudden surge in prices of onions, edible oil, pulses, and almost all food items, the kitchen budget of middle-class and lower-class families has been completely upended. In this situation, the administration has finally taken a stern stance to curb black marketing by creating artificial shortages in the market.
Since Saturday morning, the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, the District Magistrate's office, and the State Food Department jointly conducted sudden raids on multiple wholesale godowns and retail shops of sugar and food items in various market areas of the industrial town of Raniganj. DC Central Dhruba Saha, along with several senior police officers of Raniganj police station and inspectors of the food department, were present during this important operation.
Why this raid?
To keep a strict vigil on the current market situation in the state and to alleviate the sufferings of the common people, a special task force has been formed across the state as per government instructions. This monitoring and continuous operation by the administration are ongoing across both the Asansol and Durgapur subdivisions of the Paschim Bardhaman district.
Saturday's raid mainly checked whether any illegal or excessive hoarding was taking place in the godowns. The investigating officers thoroughly examined whether the difference or profit margin between the buying price from the wholesale market and the selling price in the retail market by the traders was within lawful limits. The administration strongly suspects that some dishonest traders are manipulating and creating artificial crises driven by the lure of extra profits, thereby driving up prices.
According to administrative sources, apart from one or two small shops in Raniganj, no major irregularities or illegal hoarding were found during Saturday's long operation. However, a stern warning has been issued to the traders.
Speaking on this matter, DC Central Dhruba Saha clearly stated, "The administration is fully vigilant to ensure that common people do not face any hardships due to the manipulation of any dishonest traders. As per the Chief Minister's instructions, such raids and monitoring will continue uninterrupted across the district in the coming days." Conscious citizens believe that this administrative step will bring some relief to the market.
