Chavan out to ‘fulfil’ Sena-BJP promise

Now that the Congress-NCP is set to form the government in the state, the Congress is treading the Shiv Sena-BJP path on prices of essential commodities.  The saffron parties in their election manifesto had promised to cap the prices of rice, wheat, sugar, edible oil, and tur dal for at least five years.

With sugar stocks dwindling across the country, the price is expected to cross Rs40 a kg in the next few days. Chief minister designate Ashok Chavan on Wednesday asked officials to prepare a scheme that will stabilise the rates of rice, wheat, sugar, edible oil, and tur dal for the next five years.

Chavan held a meeting – the second in the past five days — to discuss the issue of rising prices. “The rising prices of the essential commodities can be controlled through the government machinery or through a scheme where the prices of the five commodities will be fixed for five years,” Chavan said. “Submit a detailed report on the feasibility of the second option.” He was speaking with officials from the food and civil supply and marketing departments. 

An official from the marketing department said it would not be sensible of the government machinery to intervene in the open market. “We are worried about the  rising prices of sugar, oil and tur dal,” he said. “We will  pepare a proposal on the  second option.”

Chavan directed the officials to make the public distribution system more transparent. “We have received several complaints. Steps should be taken to address the complaints immediately.” He also directed the departmental heads to work towards fulfilling the assurances that the Congress and the NCP had given in their joint manifesto before the elections.