http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070912/nation.htm#7
Flood-hit Assam reels under spiralling prices Bijay Sankar Bora Tribune News Service Guwahati, September 11 Steep rise in prices of essential items and vegetables has crippled the life in the flood-ravaged Assam where traders are trying to make hay citing flood-time shortage of commodities. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted that there was a rising trend of prices in the state in the recent past. However, he tried to blame it on an all-India trend. Gogoi said all district administrations and concerned departments had been instructed to keep a tab on the price line and prevent unscrupulous traders from creating artificial crisis of commodities. He admitted that in certain districts even the administration had failed to procure flood-relief materials at government approved rates from the open market as traders demanded higher prices citing flood-time crisis. Three waves of floods have so par devastated the state since April this year taking a heavy toll on states own production of rice, pulses and vegetables. It has triggered steep rise in prices of almost all commodities in the state. According to data collected from market sources during April and September this year, price of ordinary variety of rice increased from Rs 13 to Rs 15 per kg while in case of the fine variety it increased from Rs 17 to Rs 20. In the same period prices of pulses registered over 40 per cent hike in retail market. A kg of onion now costs Rs 28 in retail market compared to April rate of Rs 10 per kg. Price of potato has touched Rs 14 per kg from Rs 7 per kg in April. There has been average Rs 9 per litre hike in prices of mustard oil. The vegetable market is on the fire with traders asking for Rs 35 for a kg of eggplant, Rs 25 for a kg of cabbage, Rs 60 for a kg of French beans, Rs 40 for a kg of tomato. There has been over 50 per cent increase in prices of almost all varieties of vegetables in the retail market making the life of common man extremely difficult in the state.
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