Govt plans district-wise meetings with market committee to regulate commodity prices: Minister

Tripura’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Sushanta Chowdhury, announced on Thursday that the government is considering organizing district-wise meetings with market associations to help stabilize the prices of essential goods and improve coordination across the state.

The minister, who also oversees the tourism department, shared this update during a state-level review meeting of the Food and Civil Supplies Department. He noted that the initiative aims to establish a calendar for these district meetings, where key issues such as pricing, supply, and coordination will be addressed.

"Today, we are holding a review meeting with officials from all regions of the state to evaluate the performance of the department and the Public Distribution System (PDS). Recently, a train derailment in Badarpur affected fuel supplies, but fuel is expected to be fully restored by tonight. From December, we will start procuring paddy from the Rabi season harvest. These topics, along with other departmental matters, are on the agenda for discussion," Chowdhury said.

Addressing the issue of price rises, he noted that staple items like onions and potatoes fall outside the purview of the Food Department and the PDS. However, the local administration is monitoring prices closely and conducting raids to curb any price inflation. "Although potatoes and onions are agricultural products, our department assists in monitoring prices. Department officials have been active in the raids, not just in Agartala but across Tripura, to prevent black marketing and penalize traders engaged in such practices. Floods have disrupted production in some regions, leading us to import vegetables from Meghalaya, Assam, and West Bengal. Consequently, prices in Tripura are higher due to added transportation costs, but we aim to control these prices as much as possible," he added.

Chowdhury further announced plans to roll out a district-wise calendar for meetings with market officials, association leaders, and ration shop dealers. The initiative seeks to improve coordination, foster better market practices, and address rising commodity prices through concerted efforts.

“To effectively manage the prices of essential goods, it’s essential to hold accountable those involved in black marketing,” he concluded.