Leader writer : Aribam Chaoba
The question on the minds of the public nowadays is the issue of the price of essential commodities. After the blockade imposed by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur along the National Highway 39 ,which is the primary route to the state regarding the transportation of much required daily items ranging from matchboxes to LPG gas cylinders, the more than 2 months blockade has affected the overall situation of the state and the residents .

 We cannot say that the commodities required by the public are unavailable as there is no lack of any provisions in the black market post the economic blockade in spite of the State Private Transporters being adamant against ferrying goods along the NH 39. The tell-tale signs are that none of the wholesale agents are closing down nor are the shops located in the local Leikais, everything is available, except that the prices have gone up and refuse to come down. Petrol and diesel may be scarce but the number of commercial and private vehicles plying on the roads are so far normal and we can see traffic jams also.

The fact that women vendors still sell petrol  in front of the petrol pumps demands a big question as to where they are getting the fuel from when the general public have to wait for hours and days at a stretch in miles long queues to get their meager share of rationed fuel.

In the unwritten principles of economics, every businessman wants to make the most out of a situation to make an easy buck and issues of morality and humanity are just not his concern.

The fact is there for all to see and hear that the alternative route to the State i.e. NH 53 is still open and lorries filled with essential commodities are still coming in 3 days a week. So, how many trips does it take to replenish the needs of the State.The Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution Minister in concern stated in the media that the state has a buffer stock for so and so many days and he is doing his best to replenish the needs of the public. So, why not distribute the goods in a normal fashion irrespective of how the commodities are being brought into the State.

The creamy layer of the society has no qualms about the prices as their purchasing capacity is high, but what about the rest who are on a hand to mouth existence? They are the ones who are feeling the brunt of the price rise which is artificial in nature. The Chief Minister O.Ibobi has stated in the ongoing Assembly that the repair work along the Highway 53 is scheduled for completion on March 2011, and the road condition will be better off for transport, will the public have to suffer till then?

What was the Govt doing the whole time when the condition of the NH 53 road needed to be improved. Talk about building a raft in the moment the floods comes in, especially in a flood prone area. Given the present status, we can see that the edible items are stockpiled in the godowns of the Business Community and the recent eye opener was the strong arm tactics implemented by the All Manipur Students Union. Even as their intentions were to control the price rise and the hoarding   of essential commodities in the interest of the general public, the lawlessness of the situation adopted by the students’ body was checked by the police and the members of the AMSU were reprimanded. Various social organizations including AMADA have started waging a war against the price rise.

The need of the hour is for the state government  to chalk out a tangible plan to restore things back to normalcy. In the mean time, a Price Fixation Committee  needs to be instituted by the Govt and the prices of essential goods needs to be fixed and any trader found violating the price list should be booked under the law.

Further investigation was on, the official sources added.