Shillong, Sept 22: Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator from Nongkrem Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Friday sought action against extortion of different forms which have led to price rise of essential commodities in the state.

While raising supplementary query in the Assembly, Basaiawmoit said the price rise is a very serious issue and to a great extent affect the common man.

“Almost every week, there is an increase in the price (of essential commodities) and the main reason of the price rise is because of many extortions that are taking place in the state. So these businessmen in order to recover have to (increase the) price (of their commodities),” he said.

In his reply, Minister in-charge Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Comingone Ymbon said the issue of price rise is not only in the State and that it is being experienced all over India.

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According to him, insufficient food production, increase in fuel prices, climate change, insufficient rain and other factors have contributed to the price rise and inflation.

He informed that the state has district vigilant committee to check price rise and that is why the department is capturing in all three markets – Iewduh, Laitumkhrah and Rynjah – by using mobile app with GPS on essential committees.

On the concern raised by UDP’s Sohiong MLA S Lyngdoh with regards to alleged plastic rice, Ymbon however said the people in the state do not know about fortified rice and they said it is plastic rice.

“However, if people are getting plastic rice, kindly ask them to complaint to our department,” he added.

Earlier, the minister informed that steps have been taken by the government to keep in check the seriousness of food inflation.

The department has instructed the districts/sub-divisions from time to time to carry out raids and inspection regularly to prevent hoarding and black marketing and to increase the prosecution and conviction rate and provide the outcome of such raids.

“Also, action is taken on reports relating to offences under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 & the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980,” he said.

“Instructions have been sent to all deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers to constitute the district and sub-division vigilance monitoring committee to curb tendencies of hoarding and black marketing to ensure that there is no hoarding and black marketing of commodities,” Ymbon said while adding that monitoring of prices of essential commodities through price monitoring centres is done and action is taken thereupon.

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