Tripura brings onion, potato under Essential Commodities Act

The Left Front government in Tripura has decided to bring onion and potato under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955, to check the rise in prices of these two commodities, a minister said here Wednesday.

"The state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in its meeting here Tuesday reviewed the price rise of various essential commodities. It was decided to bring onion and potato under the ECA to ensure the reasonable prices of these items in the open market," Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bhanu Lal Saha told reporters.

He said the cabinet also asked the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department to step up its vigilance to combat the rising prices of potato and onion, which is selling at Rs.45-50 per kg in Tripura.

The minister said that with the imposition of thed ECA it would be easier to control the stock of onions and potatoes and under the Tripura Food Stuff Dealer Licence Order, 2010, all traders selling onions and potatoes would have to obtain licence from the appropriate authority.

"The state government has also fixed the maximum stock limit of small, medium and wholesale traders of onions and potatoes and anyone holding stocks of these items beyond limits specified by government would be liable for prosecution," the minister added.

Saha said the state government has been receiving complaints that despite adequate supplies of onions and potatoes, prices are rising in the open market.

The ECA was enforced with an aim to check the hoarding by fixing stock limits in respect of these commodities in view of rising prices in the open market.