In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday took umbrage at rising prices of agricultural produce and blamed the central government for “completely failing” to maintain control over prices of agricultural produce. .
Banerjee, who chaired a meeting at the state secretariat on the issue, gave a 10-day deadline to officials concerned about bringing down prices of agricultural produce.
"It is a fact that the prices of these products are beyond the reach of common people. The Center has not been able to control this price rise at all," she said.
The CM pointed out that the prices of potato, onion, garlic, brinjal, pumpkin and cucumber have increased considerably compared to last year's rates.
"The monsoon is already here, but vegetable prices continue to rise. People are afraid to go to the market. We are very worried about this situation. I am giving them a period of 10 days to bring down the prices," Banerjee officials, traders told and other interested parties present at the meeting.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, State Agriculture Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Chief Secretary B. P. Gopalika and senior police officials were among those who attended the meeting.
The chief minister also directed members of the state task force formed to check price rise to immediately start visiting markets in the state to monitor sales of vegetables and their prices.
The task force comprises senior police officials and bureaucrats, including the chief secretary, home minister, DGP, ADG (Law and Order) and police commissioners.
"Members of the task force will periodically monitor the markets and submit weekly reports to me," he said.
Banerjee said additional potatoes should not be stored in cold storage or vegetables should not be exported without meeting the needs of the people of the state.
"Currently, we are still storing 30 lakh of the 45 lakh metric tonne capacity of potatoes in cold storage warehouses. Why is such a large volume of potatoes still sitting in our warehouses when vegetable prices are rising?
“Keep at least 25 percent and release the rest into the market. There should be a constant supply of potatoes. We will also carry out vehicle checks at the border... We cannot deprive our people and send potatoes to other countries,” he stated.
Banerjee also emphasized that the state government should stop purchasing onions from Nashik in a bid to save transportation costs and instead focus on purchasing the vegetable from local farmers.
“We have about 4,000 onion warehouses in the state. Why don't traders buy vegetables from our local farmers? the prime minister asked, advocating self-sufficiency in onion production.
The Bengal CM also directed the police to keep a strict vigil on hoarding of essential agricultural produce to ensure that prices do not go out of control.
"Bengal STF, CID, IB and Enforcement Department should monitor this," he said, adding that strict action would be taken against those involved in extortion.
Banerjee, who chaired a meeting at the state secretariat on the issue, gave a 10-day deadline to officials concerned about bringing down prices of agricultural produce.
"It is a fact that the prices of these products are beyond the reach of common people. The Center has not been able to control this price rise at all," she said.
The CM pointed out that the prices of potato, onion, garlic, brinjal, pumpkin and cucumber have increased considerably compared to last year's rates.
"The monsoon is already here, but vegetable prices continue to rise. People are afraid to go to the market. We are very worried about this situation. I am giving them a period of 10 days to bring down the prices," Banerjee officials, traders told and other interested parties present at the meeting.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, State Agriculture Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Chief Secretary B. P. Gopalika and senior police officials were among those who attended the meeting.
The chief minister also directed members of the state task force formed to check price rise to immediately start visiting markets in the state to monitor sales of vegetables and their prices.
The task force comprises senior police officials and bureaucrats, including the chief secretary, home minister, DGP, ADG (Law and Order) and police commissioners.
"Members of the task force will periodically monitor the markets and submit weekly reports to me," he said.
Banerjee said additional potatoes should not be stored in cold storage or vegetables should not be exported without meeting the needs of the people of the state.
"Currently, we are still storing 30 lakh of the 45 lakh metric tonne capacity of potatoes in cold storage warehouses. Why is such a large volume of potatoes still sitting in our warehouses when vegetable prices are rising?
“Keep at least 25 percent and release the rest into the market. There should be a constant supply of potatoes. We will also carry out vehicle checks at the border... We cannot deprive our people and send potatoes to other countries,” he stated.
Banerjee also emphasized that the state government should stop purchasing onions from Nashik in a bid to save transportation costs and instead focus on purchasing the vegetable from local farmers.
“We have about 4,000 onion warehouses in the state. Why don't traders buy vegetables from our local farmers? the prime minister asked, advocating self-sufficiency in onion production.
The Bengal CM also directed the police to keep a strict vigil on hoarding of essential agricultural produce to ensure that prices do not go out of control.
"Bengal STF, CID, IB and Enforcement Department should monitor this," he said, adding that strict action would be taken against those involved in extortion.
