Bhubaneswar: Amid skyrocketing prices of essential commodities ahead of landfall of cyclone ‘Dana’, the Odisha government on Wednesday issued a dedicated telephone number for people to lodge complaint against traders charging high prices for vegetables and other items.
Official sources said that the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FS&CW) Department has urged people to lodge their complaints against such unscrupulous traders by dialing the dedicated phone number (0674-2396227).
The FS&CW department has warned that stern action will be taken against unscrupulous traders causing artificial shortages in the market and charging high prices for essential commodities by taking advantage of the situation.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cyclone ‘Dana’ is likely to hit the Odisha coast between Bhitarkanika in Kendrapada district and Dhamra in Bhadrak by the early morning of October 25.
Several districts of the state including Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore are likely to be battered heavy to very heavy rainfall and high-velocity winds under the influence of the cyclonic storm.
The people are resorting to panic buying of essential commodities like grocery items and vegetables fearing disruption in the supply chain and consequent rise in prices.
FW&CS Minister Krushna Chandra Patra has directed the officials to monitor the situation and take the necessary steps to check hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities.
Stating that there is adequate stock of essential commodities, Patra urged people not to go for panic buying which may lead price surge.
In last couple of days, prices of vegetables and other food items have increased significantly in Bhubaneswar and other places.
Sources said officials of the department conducted raids at several markets in Bhubaneswr including Unit-I, Unit-IV, Indradhanu, Damana, Badagada and Sahid Nagar to check rise in prices of vegetables.