Prices of essential commodities to come down

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 6 (UNI) Traders in Kerala have decided to reduce prices of essential commodities by five per cent, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said today.

Talking to media after a meeting with representatives of traders and hotel owners, he said the price cut would be reflected in the market from tomorrow.

Claiming that the government's efforts to check prices had already had results in the market, he said the Civil Supplies Corporation would take steps to collect articles directly from producers. Also, the State Price Monitoring committee would meet every month to assess market prices and take necessary steps.

Referring to the skyrocketing vegetable prices, he said the Horticulture Department would procure vegetables directly from farmers. The Chief Minister said the government would consider the traders' demand for introducing 'weekly markets' in every panchayat.

While prices at the national level were moving upward, in the state it was in the downward direction, he claimed.

UNI