District Magistrate to check price hike in markets, surveillance will remain on prices ranging from vegetables to sugar, rice, and onions
Asansol: The Government of West Bengal has taken a very strict stance regarding the rapidly increasing prices of vegetables and daily essentials in the market. Following instructions from the top tier of the state administration, extensive surveillance has begun in various markets of the Paschim Bardhaman district. With common people facing hardships in running their households and the budgets of the middle class and working class being virtually thrown into disarray, the administration has directly stepped into the field. Paschim Bardhaman District Magistrate S. Ponnambalam has formed a special task force and personally visited the Asansol market along with officials to directly inspect the prices of various commodities.
The District Magistrate stated that continuous complaints were being received from the general public regarding the abnormal price hike of several essential commodities. This sensitive issue was discussed in detail during a high-level administrative meeting. Following this, the administration decided to form a total of four separate task forces across the district. Surveillance has begun with the formation of two teams for smooth management within the corporation area and another separate team outside the corporation area under the leadership of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).
Strict surveillance ongoing at all levels—from wholesale to retail
The formed task forces are visiting various markets to check the wholesale and retail prices of essential commodities. Thorough checks are being conducted to see if prices are being artificially inflated, if black marketing or hoarding is being carried out by dishonest traders, and whether the weighing scales used in shops are functioning properly. During the inspection, the DC Central, ADM, Commissioner of Asansol Municipal Corporation, along with high-ranking officials from agriculture, agricultural marketing, consumer protection, and other relevant departments, were present. The administration is collecting comparative data on wholesale market prices versus retail market prices and the exact prices ordinary buyers are forced to pay. The District Magistrate has made it clear that if any irregularities, hoarding, or unjustified price hikes come to light during the investigation, the strictest legal action will be taken. He further stated that the government is continuously monitoring the market situation and no price hikes for essential commodities will be permitted without a valid reason.
Special focus on the prices of sugar, rice, and onions
The administration has informed that in the current market, the prices of several perishable and non-perishable items, including sugar, rice, and onions, are on the verge of going beyond the reach of the common people. Therefore, regular and strict surveillance will henceforth be maintained on the prices of these products. This drive is being conducted in all important and crowded markets of Paschim Bardhaman, including Asansol, Raniganj, Durgapur, Rupnarayanpur, Kulti, and Burnpur. A clear message has been given by the administration that price hikes and black marketing will not be tolerated even slightly.
Administration raids sugar godown in Benachity, Durgapur
To control market prices and curb the black marketing of sugar, the administration raided a large sugar godown in the Shalbagan area of Benachity, Durgapur. This operation was carried out through a joint initiative of the Durgapur sub-divisional administration and the Durgapur Municipal Corporation. A massive police force including the Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, along with the Commissioner of the Durgapur Municipal Corporation, were present during this raid. The quantity of sugar stored in the godown, the current market price, and the overall sales process were thoroughly examined. According to administrative sources, this raid was conducted to check whether prices were being increased by artificially creating a crisis in the market. Simultaneously, the Durgapur Municipal Corporation (DMC), the Agricultural Marketing Department, and the police administration jointly raided multiple shops and godowns in the Benachity market of Durgapur to inspect the prices and stock situation of various essential commodities including rice, sugar, and flour. DCP East Raspreet Singh, ACP Subir Roy, and DMC Commissioner Abul Kalam Azad led this operation.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate's sudden raids in Rupnarayanpur and Amladahi markets
To keep the market prices of essential commodities under control and completely eradicate black marketing, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and police administration conducted sudden raids in the Rupnarayanpur market of Salanpur block and the Amladahi market of Chittaranjan block. Conducted under the leadership of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDO) Sadhan Debnath, this joint operation was attended by ACP (Kulti) Javed Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Salanpur police station Biswajit Mandal, and other administrative officials. During the market inspection, the current rates of rice, sugar, onion, edible oil, various vegetables, and meat and fish were verified in detail. Observing the gap between wholesale and retail market prices, officials checked whether attempts were being made to artificially inflate prices. Concluding the operation, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sadhan Debnath issued a stern warning stating that the administration will spare no one who increases the prices of essential goods without reason or by creating an artificial crisis.
Strict measures to curb sugar price hike in Kalna
Not only in Paschim Bardhaman, but the Kalna sub-divisional administration in Purba Bardhaman district also conducted sudden raids on various markets and godowns in Kalna to prevent the black marketing of sugar. Kalna Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ahimsa Jain and SDPO Suman Das, along with other officials, participated in this operation. Visiting various shops and godowns in Kalna, it was clearly announced that sugar cannot be sold at a price higher than 60 rupees under any circumstances. Upon receiving allegations of selling sugar at inflated prices in a godown located in the Adhikari Para area of Kalna, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate ordered the shopkeeper to immediately halt the sale of sugar and instructed the police to keep the entire matter under strict surveillance. While this sudden and strict administrative step in the market has brought relief to the common people, it has created widespread panic among dishonest and profiteering traders. Administrative sources have confirmed that such operations and surveillance will continue uninterrupted in the future as well to protect the interests of the common people.
