BALURGHAT, Aug. 25 -- A special task force on Tuesday conducted inspections across wholesale and retail markets in Balurghat to check reports of overcharging and monitor the recent rise in prices of essential commodities, particularly sugar.
The inspection team, led by Balurghat Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Dipannita Patra, visited rice, sugar, vegetable, fruit and grocery markets. Police personnel and officials from various departments concerned with market regulation and food safety also took part in the operation.
The team interacted with both traders and consumers and instructed sellers not to charge buyers above the prevailing rates. The task force also inspected a godown in the town to ascertain whether essential commodities, particularly sugar, were being hoarded.
Speaking to reporters, Patra said: "We conducted field inspections in Balurghat. The price of sugar has risen in the last few days. A dealer can store a maximum of 4000 quintal of sugar at a time. We found no excess stock being stored in the godown. We are checking the reasons behind the price rise."
She added that inspections would continue over the next few days as part of a continuous monitoring process. According to her, rice prices were normal and nothing unusual was found in the vegetable, grocery or fruit markets during Tuesday's inspection.
The price of sugar has increased sharply in recent weeks. It was selling at around Rs 45-46 per kg in the last week of July, while the current retail price has reached nearly Rs 72 per kg in Balurghat.
Market sources have linked the increase to demand and supply factors, while claims have also been made that ethanol blending in petrol and diesel has affected sugar availability.
Local buyer and theatre personality Jishnu Neogi welcomed the inspection but alleged that prices of groceries, vegetables and fruits were rising rapidly.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.