The State government has attributed rise in price of essential commodities due to irregular and late monsoon in the country.
Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Comingone Ymbon today told the House that the rising cost of food grains, pulses, and vegetables has impacted the citizens, making it imperative for the government to take proactive measures.
According to him, the fluctuation of prices, particularly in food grains, pulses, and vegetables, is also largely driven by multiple aspects.
“The irregular and late monsoon rains in parts of the country has led to widespread droughts, especially affecting food grains and vegetable production,” he said in his reply to a calling attention notice brought by VPP MLA, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit.
Ymbon also said that there are also instances where heavy rainfall has resulted in floods whereby most crops and pulses perish, leading to a significant reduction in supply.
He also pointed out that the State’s topography and climate conditions add to the challenges faced, leading to supply-demand imbalances.
The Minister said that the hilly terrain of Meghalaya increases transportation costs, which are subsequently passed on to consumers.
Moreover, the State’s reliance on imports of certain commodities from outside the state has further aggravated the situation, as market fluctuations directly affect local prices.
He pointed out that recognising the urgency of the situation, the department has undertaken several initiatives to stabilise prices and ensure the availability of essential commodities to all citizens.
According to him, the key intervention is the implementation of the Price Monitoring System (PMS).
Under the PMS, the wholesale and retail prices of 38 essential commodities are collected and analysed on a daily basis, enabling the department to take appropriate policy interventions to stabilise prices.
Ymbon also said that the department has taken decisive action to prevent black marketing and overcharging.
He said that instructions have been issued to the districts and sub-divisions to conduct regular inspections and ensure compliance with the all-India rates of essential commodities. This includes enforcement actions against hoarding, price manipulation, and ensuring the authenticity of data on essential commodities.
This expansion includes 16 additional commodities, bringing the coverage closer to the commodities listed under the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation.
He said the department has established two levels of Price Monitoring Committees – the State Level Price Monitoring Committee and the District/Sub-Divisional Vigilance and Monitoring Committees.
According to him these committees are tasked with monitoring price movements and conducting regular inspections to prevent hoarding, black marketing, and unwarranted price hikes of essential commodities.
He informed that the committees have the authority to penalise hoarders under the relevant provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1980. Furthermore, Districts and Sub-Divisional Offices have been instructed to submit quarterly reports on the minutes of their meetings, ensuring a continuous review process.
Ymbon also said that to tackle the recent price rise, a meeting of the State Level Price Monitoring Committee was convened on May 29, 2024 under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.
“The Committee issued instructions to the Districts and Sub-Divisions to establish mechanisms for checking price rises, conducting surprise inspections, and ensuring that wholesalers and retailers do not exploit consumers,” he said.
He also informed the House that the Department of Agriculture has been directed to keep market regulations in place and to monitor prices, especially for commodities like tomatoes and other vegetables, where significant price fluctuations have been observed.
