Nirbhik Bangla, Asansol: The state government has now taken a strict stance against the rapidly rising prices of vegetables and essential food items in the market, which are pinching the pockets of common people. To restore relief for the common people and rein in runaway inflation, rigorous monitoring has started across Paschim Bardhaman district under the directives of the state administration. Amidst the way prices of essentials ranging from potatoes and onions to vegetables, rice, and pulses have been on an upward trend recently, the middle class and common buyers have been facing extreme distress. In this situation, as per the Chief Minister's directives, Paschim Bardhaman District Magistrate S. Ponnm Balam has himself stepped into the field. To assess the actual market situation, he personally visited various markets in Asansol and spoke with sellers and buyers.
According to administrative sources, complaints regarding the abnormal rise in prices of essential commodities had been coming in from common people for quite some time. This critical situation did not escape the attention of the top tier of the state government. Recently, this issue was discussed in detail during a high-level meeting convened by the Chief Minister. Following this, as per the specific directives of the Chief Minister, a total of four special task forces or executive teams have been formed in Paschim Bardhaman district to bring the situation under control. The scope of work and areas for these teams have been clearly defined.
Administration sources stated that two separate task forces have been formed for smooth monitoring within the Asansol Municipal Corporation area. On the other hand, separate teams led by Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) have been formed for rural and other urban areas outside the corporation limits, who will regularly inspect the markets. This monitoring will be carried out at every level—from wholesale markets down to retail markets.
The main responsibility of the task force is to visit various markets and inspect the current prices of essential commodities. Strict vigilance will be maintained to see if any unscrupulous business syndicate is trying to artificially inflate product prices, or if illegal activities like hoarding and black marketing are taking place anywhere. Additionally, surprise checks are being conducted to verify whether weighing machines or weights used in shops are functioning properly and if metrology rules are being followed to avoid cheating customers.
During today's crucial market inspection, the District Magistrate was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner (Central), Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Commissioner of the Asansol Municipal Corporation, along with senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Department, Consumer Affairs Department, and other relevant law enforcement agencies. The presence of these top administrative officials created a stir in the markets.
The administration is not solely relying on the explanations of the vendors; rather, information regarding product prices is being gathered directly from the consumers. The administration is preparing a comparative account of the prices at which goods are sold in wholesale markets, the retail market prices, and ultimately the prices at which common buyers purchase them. The administration has warned that if any kind of irregularity, creation of an artificial crisis, illegal hoarding, or unprecedented evidence of unjustified price hikes comes to light during the investigation, strict legal action will be taken against the concerned traders with a zero-tolerance policy.
District Magistrate S. Ponnm Balam has stated in very clear terms that the state government is monitoring the current market situation 24/7. If any vendor or syndicate attempts to raise the prices of essential commodities without any logical or realistic reason, it will not be tolerated.
The administration is particularly concerned about the rising prices of basic cooking ingredients for common people such as sugar, rice, and onions. Therefore, special and regular monitoring will henceforth be maintained on the prices of these three crucial commodities. Along with Asansol city, these special task force operations will continue uninterrupted in all important and major markets of Paschim Bardhaman district, including Raniganj, Durgapur, Rupnarayanpur, Kulti, and Burnpur. This strict administrative move has sparked panic among dishonest traders, and common people are hoping that this will soon bring the market prices of vegetables and essentials under control.
