Efforts to control sugar price intensified

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 18 JAN: In order to control the price of essential commodities, particularly sugar, the district enforcement branch will evaluate and check the wholesale price of sugar given by the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce (MMCC) after 22 January.

The Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal said that they had not been able to verify the whole sale rate of sugar and other essential commodities and its retail prices demanded by the retail traders in the markets, due to lack of staffs over the past few days.

“Almost all staffs of the DEB have been posted at Sagar. They will be retunning shortly. We will start verification of the market prices of essential commodities including the sugar. The verification process will be concluded after comparing market prices with wholesale and retail prices and then steps according to the law”, said Mr Bhuban Mandal.

Though the MMCC leaders claimed that the rate of sugar will be Rs.43 to Rs44 per kg in the retail market, many traders were allegedly claiming rate to be Rs 46 to 47 per kg.

The whole sale rate of sugar has gone up as compared to last week.

According to the MMCC secretary, today’s whole sale rate of sugar is Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,100 per quintal. Last week, the whole sale rate of sugar ranged between Rs 3,800 to Rs 3,900.

“The retail traders will be selling sugar at Rs 43 to Rs 44 per kg”, said Mr Jayanta Kundu, the secretary of the MMCC.

“I have got information that the whole sale rate of sugar in Kolkata has been reduced. We hope that sugar rate will be falling within the coming two days”, Mr Kundu claimed.

The district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh has asked Mr Kundu to check the abnormal price hike of sugar that has been caused it seems by the local retail traders.