Govt to keep round the clock vigil on price hike: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 (UNI) As part of checking price hike in open market, the Civil Supplies Corporation will open 'round-the-clock control room' soon in its Commissionarate to accept complaints from the public, Kerala Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran said today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the Government had noted price hike in certain parts of the State and it would take all measures to check it.

He said raids would also be conducted jointly with various departments under the District Collector in all districts to examine price and quality of the commodities.

Mr Divakaran said the Government also noted that hotels were charging high price according to their whims and fancies. In order to reduce the price in hotels, the Civil Supplies Corporation would provide commodities at reasonable prices.

The Government had convened a meeting of Hotel and Restaurant Owners' Association and the matter would be informed to them in a meeting here on November 13.

The Minister said the Government would encourage Kudumbasree units in the hotel business. Since the Central Essential Commodities Act was not enough to check the anomalies in the market, the Government had prepared a 'draft plan' for a special Act, enabling the State to check godowns and initiating prosecution against culprits, he added.

The new Act would not have any clause from the Central Act and the Government planned to introduce it in the next Assembly session.

UNI