Price under control, says food and civil supplies minister

Guwahati, Jul 13 (UNI) Prices of essential commodities, including food items in Asom, are under control and there is no abnormal rise in prices, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Nazibul Umar claimed in the Assembly today.

Replying to a call attention motion of two opposition members on the matter, he said prices of all commodities were now falling after initiatives taken by the state administration.

The minister admitted that prices had shown an abnormal increase since December last year. But, after the present government came to power, the deputy commissioners were instructed to keep a check on the matter and as a result prices started coming down from May.

''We have also held several rounds of talks with the Chambers of Commerce to find out the factors responsible for the rising prices,'' he said.

Mr Umar said withdrawal of six per cent concession on freight fare by the Railways to the North Eastern states and further levy of surcharge has contributed to the price rise apart from the increase in fuel prices.

He said the state government had requested the Centre to continue the concession which was available for last 23 years for the region.

Earlier, raising the matter former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, quoting newspaper reports, alleged that the government was not taking much initiative to keep the prices under check. He said people from all sections of the society have suffered due to the abnormal price rise of essential commodities.

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