Tripura gears up for Monsoon: Food Minister ensures smooth supply of essentials, warns black marketers
With the onset of the monsoon season, Tripura's road connectivity often faces significant disruptions due to the state's challenging geographical terrain. In response, the state's Food and Civil Supplies Department has implemented proactive measures to ensure the continuous supply of essential commodities, including petroleum products and LPG cylinders, throughout this period, Food Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said.
“Recognizing that natural disasters during the monsoon can hinder transportation and lead to price hikes in essential commodities, the department has taken steps to prevent shortages and curb black marketeering”, the Minister said after chairing a high-level meeting in Agartala to discuss preparations for the monsoon season.
Chowdhury addressed reporters after the meeting, highlighting the challenges posed by the monsoon in Northeast India, which occasionally disrupts the movement of goods via road and rail on the Assam-Agartala National Highway and railway line.
"To mitigate these disruptions, we have established a buffer stock of essential food items in the state," he asserted. "The current stock in our godowns will suffice for the next few days, ensuring consumers can easily access necessary items without facing any difficulties," he said.
The minister also issued a stern warning to black marketeers and hoarders, emphasizing that the Food Department will take strict action against those creating artificial crises or inflating prices. "Our officers are actively conducting raids and inspections in various markets to prevent the sale of expired goods and ensure prices remain stable," Chowdhury added.
Assuring the public, Chowdhury emphasized that there is no need to panic regarding the availability of essential commodities, including fuel. "The state has a stock of petrol and diesel sufficient for six to seven days. Besides, the railway lines at Badarpur and Lamding have sustained partial damage due to a heavy storm, causing water and slush accumulation in some areas. We are in close contact with Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), and work is underway to resolve these issues within the next two days," he explained.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including the Secretary of the Department of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, the Director, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors, Sub Divisional Controllers (Food), Chief Inspectors, and the Divisional Manager of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Representatives from various merchant associations and market committees, as well as officials from IOCIL, a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, were also present.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
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