Guwahati (Assam), May 18: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday warned traders against unfair price increases and directed officials across districts to enforce strict market monitoring to protect consumers.
In a post on X, Sarma said the government is keeping “a close eye on the market” and will not allow abnormal escalation in essential commodity prices. “Our Govt and administration is keeping a close eye on the market and will not allow any unfair price rise. I have instructed officials in every district to keep a tab on prices of items and take stringent actions against any defaulter,” he posted.
Officials said Sarma reviewed the state’s price monitoring mechanism and told Deputy Commissioner-led District Monitoring Committees to meet within the next three to four days to assess market conditions and ensure compliance. He also made it mandatory for all shops and wholesale outlets to display retail and wholesale prices to maintain transparency and prevent arbitrary pricing.
The Chief Minister warned that strict action, including cancellation of trade licences in serious cases, would be taken against traders found indulging in abnormal price hikes. Deputy Commissioners have been asked to hold weekly review meetings with chambers of commerce and trade bodies to track market trends and address grievances related to pricing and supply.
Sarma further directed officials to intensify field-level monitoring to detect and prevent unusual price escalation in local markets. In another move to plug leakages, he asked authorities to expedite Aadhaar seeding of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to eliminate duplicity in LPG cylinder distribution and ensure benefits reach genuine consumers.
The government said the measures aim to maintain market stability, check profiteering, and ensure uninterrupted availability of essential goods for the public.
