Punjab forms committee to monitor essential commodity prices

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said a five-member high-powered committee has been formed to monitor the prices of essential commodities in the state.

The committee would oversee the prices of various commodities on a daily basis besides reviewing the action taken by different authorities under the Essential Commodities Act, Badal told reporters at Gurdaspur.

Meanwhile, the committee constituted by the Punjab government to monitor the prices and stock of essential commodities met here under the chairmanship of Jaspal Singh, Chairman and Secretary, Planning.

The committee has decided to raid crucial locations to check hoarding of essential commodities and also issued directions to fix the upper limit of the stock, an official spokesman said here.

The Food and Civil Supply Department has been asked to report the position of the stock at district level while Deputy Commissioners have been tasked with the responsibility of keeping a close tab at the stock of kerosene oil as well as its proper distribution.

The upper limit of the stock of onion and potato which can be stored by a retailer or wholesaler would be fixed in the next meeting, the spokesman added.