The Voice of the People Party has urged the State government to investigate and address the reasons behind rampant price rise in the State.
In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, the VPP also demanded for regulating and monitoring the functioning of toll gates and checkpoints along the highways “which significantly contribute to the increased cost of goods in the State”.
The party also asked the State government to ensure that farmers were not exploited by middlemen and that a fair price mechanism should be in place to protect the interest of both the producers and consumers from unjustified profiteering.
It also suggested strengthening of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to enforce government fixed prices and address the violation of price controls.
Further, the VPP urged the State government to address the transportation challenges caused by the load restrictions at Umiam bridge as goods vehicles had to take longer routes which may contribute to sharp rise in prices due to increased transportation costs.
“The government must urgently explore and create shorter alternative routes to ease the movement of goods,” the party said.
Recalling the one-day demonstration organised by the party on September 13 to protest against price rise, the VPP also threatened to intensify the protest if the State government failed to act swiftly to ease price rise.
