Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on Wednesday chaired a video conference with District Commissioners to review price monitoring of essential commodities and market stability. The meeting was held in continuation of the review by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier. The Chief Secretary emphasized strengthening district level mechanisms through regular reviews, field inspections and strict enforcement to prevent hoarding, artificial scarcity and price escalation. He directed the District Commissioners for immediate holding of District Level Task Force meetings and sharing of minutes; similar monitoring at Co-district, Circle and Block levels with all stakeholders; intensification of field-level monitoring of stock and prices of essential commodities, and market inspections.
He further directed the DCs to mobilize Enforcement Squads comprising officers from concerned departments.Kota also asked the DCs to ensure mandatory display of wholesale and retail prices at shops/markets for transparency of consumers; issuance of cash memos by wholesalers to retailers; regular review meetings with trader bodies, including Chambers of Commerce; proper reporting of price ranges (maximum/minimum/most consumed) through designated platforms; strict action to prevent hoarding, artificial scarcity and price escalation by unscrupulous traders; cancellation of trade licences of defaulting traders; media management and public awareness to prevent rumour mongering besides cross-checking of price data reported by PMCs The Chief Secretary directed strict compliance of all advisories to ensure market stability and consumer protection.