Mamata takes charge of agri marketing dept
7 Nov 2013 12:02 AM GMT
‘I have told Arup Roy (agriculture marketing minister) that from now on for some days I would look after the department’s work, though he will continue to remain its minister,’ Banerjee told reporters after a high-level meeting with state finance minister Amit Mitra, chief secretary Sanjay Mitra and senior government and police officers.
Concerned over ‘artificial scarcity’ of potato after the state government pegged the price of the commodity in retail markets across the city at Rs 13 a kg, Banerjee on Wednesday warned of strict action against hoarders including cancelling licenses of ‘dishonest’ traders.
‘We will take action against those fleecing the common man. There is adequate supply. But, hoarders are trying to create artificial scarcity of potato after it was decided at a joint meeting between the state government and the traders recently to sell potato at Rs 13 in the retail markets and Rs 11 in the wholesale markets,’ Banerjee, who paid a surprise visit to some city markets including the Koley Market at Sealdah during the day, said.
‘They are not keeping their words,’ Banerjee said referring to the traders' representatives who were co-signatories along with government officials on a leaflet released after the recent meeting, confirming the price.
‘Nobody should think that our government is weak. Stern action would be taken against hoarders and dishonest traders. We are shortlisting their names. Police, state enforcement branch and other agencies would conduct raids.
Some of them are now hiding at Ghatshila and Jalandhar. We are keeping a tab,’ Banerjee said.
Assuring that the situation would normalise within two days, she warned that the licenses of ‘dishonest’ traders would be cancelled.
‘A few of the 67 trucks loaded with potato were hid at secret locations by dishonest traders yesterday after the commodity was taken out from a godown at Hooghly district for delivery at different markets in Kolkata,’ she alleged.
Concerned over ‘artificial scarcity’ of potato after the state government pegged the price of the commodity in retail markets across the city at Rs 13 a kg, Banerjee on Wednesday warned of strict action against hoarders including cancelling licenses of ‘dishonest’ traders.
‘We will take action against those fleecing the common man. There is adequate supply. But, hoarders are trying to create artificial scarcity of potato after it was decided at a joint meeting between the state government and the traders recently to sell potato at Rs 13 in the retail markets and Rs 11 in the wholesale markets,’ Banerjee, who paid a surprise visit to some city markets including the Koley Market at Sealdah during the day, said.
‘They are not keeping their words,’ Banerjee said referring to the traders' representatives who were co-signatories along with government officials on a leaflet released after the recent meeting, confirming the price.
‘Nobody should think that our government is weak. Stern action would be taken against hoarders and dishonest traders. We are shortlisting their names. Police, state enforcement branch and other agencies would conduct raids.
Some of them are now hiding at Ghatshila and Jalandhar. We are keeping a tab,’ Banerjee said.
Assuring that the situation would normalise within two days, she warned that the licenses of ‘dishonest’ traders would be cancelled.
‘A few of the 67 trucks loaded with potato were hid at secret locations by dishonest traders yesterday after the commodity was taken out from a godown at Hooghly district for delivery at different markets in Kolkata,’ she alleged.
Next Story
