The supply-demand principle manifested itself in practical terms in the riot-hit Old City here on Wednesday. For instance, shortage of milk sent the price of the essential ingredient in an average Hyderabadi’s favourite beverage, Chai, sky-rocket.
With curfew enforcement entering the second day, residents of Old City had to go without groceries, vegetables, and other essential goods.
Milk was sold at Rs 80 per litre as police prevented milk vans from entering the curfew-imposed areas, despite curfew passes being issued to the vehicles.
Children and infants were the worst hit as milk supplies were badly affected and a few vendors who had stocked milk packets in advance, made a killing.
Abdulla Bin Masqati, owner of Masqati Dairy and TD MLC, told this correspondent that police stopped all their 12 vehicles that supply milk in Old City. “Our vehicles had curfew passes issued by the DCP.”
The denizens bore the brunt as they suffered without ration and essential commodities. As residents in Shalibanda ventured out of their houses to express their grievances to the media, police shooed them away.
“I live along with my friends in a rented portion. We usually bring vegetables on a daily basis and cook ourselves. Because of curfew we are going to bed empty stomachs,” said Mr Yella Mahesh, an MBA student from Moosabowli.
Women who ventured out in search of kirana stores, had to return empty handed as most of the provision stores in the neighbourhood ran out of stocks by Tuesday. Except for the pharmacies attached to private hospitals and clinics, the medical stores were closed. Residents in need of emergency medication could not venture out.
Showing posts with label essential commodities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label essential commodities. Show all posts
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Left to launch 'Jail Bharo' agitation against price rise
Mounting a major campaign against the Manmohan Singh government on the issue of price rise, the Left parties on Friday promised to intensify the agitation with 'jail bharo' on April 8 across the country.
In order to give a wake-up call to the 'anti-people' Congress-led UPA government, the Left parties said some 25 lakh people will picket the government offices in various parts of the country and offer themselves for arrest.
"The April 8 agitation will be the biggest 'Jan Andolan' (mass movement) by the people against the policies of the Central Government…if they do not listen we will work against the government during the remainder of the Budget session," the CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat said addressing the assembly.
The Parliament Street stretch from near the Saradar Patel Chowk towards Rajiv Chowk was awash with the Red Flag of the four Left Parties. The venue was the culmination point of the 'March to Parliament' conducted by the four Left Parties against price rise.
The rally made demands on the government: Control Price Rise; Right to Food, Right to Health and strengthen public distribution system, among others. The meeting was addressed by the CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan, his RSP counterpart T.J. Chandrachoodan. CPI Parliamentary Party leader Gurudas Dasgupta and CPI(M) Parliamentary Party leader Sitaram Yechury also addressed the gathering.
Leaders charged that the UPA government that came to power promising to work for the Aam Aadmi (common person) has jettisoned the approach by favouring the rich and corporate sector.
"The corporate sector has been given concession worth Rs. 80,000 crore while it imposed Rs 60,000 by way of indirect taxes on the working class," Mr. Dasgupta said asserting that the battle against the government policies has just begun.
On his part, Mr. Yechury argued that had the government taken simple steps like distributing 2.75 lakh tonnes of surplus foodgrains from the godowns for distribution through the public distribution system, the prices would have come down. He said the government is reluctant to ban futures trading even as speculators booked Rs. 15 lakh crore profit. Similarly, it did not take any action against hoarders.
He said the rise in prices of essential commodities has created a situation right in the first year of the government that it has started counting its support in the Lok Sabha, something usually done towards the end of the tenure.
In order to give a wake-up call to the 'anti-people' Congress-led UPA government, the Left parties said some 25 lakh people will picket the government offices in various parts of the country and offer themselves for arrest.
"The April 8 agitation will be the biggest 'Jan Andolan' (mass movement) by the people against the policies of the Central Government…if they do not listen we will work against the government during the remainder of the Budget session," the CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat said addressing the assembly.
The Parliament Street stretch from near the Saradar Patel Chowk towards Rajiv Chowk was awash with the Red Flag of the four Left Parties. The venue was the culmination point of the 'March to Parliament' conducted by the four Left Parties against price rise.
The rally made demands on the government: Control Price Rise; Right to Food, Right to Health and strengthen public distribution system, among others. The meeting was addressed by the CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan, his RSP counterpart T.J. Chandrachoodan. CPI Parliamentary Party leader Gurudas Dasgupta and CPI(M) Parliamentary Party leader Sitaram Yechury also addressed the gathering.
Leaders charged that the UPA government that came to power promising to work for the Aam Aadmi (common person) has jettisoned the approach by favouring the rich and corporate sector.
"The corporate sector has been given concession worth Rs. 80,000 crore while it imposed Rs 60,000 by way of indirect taxes on the working class," Mr. Dasgupta said asserting that the battle against the government policies has just begun.
On his part, Mr. Yechury argued that had the government taken simple steps like distributing 2.75 lakh tonnes of surplus foodgrains from the godowns for distribution through the public distribution system, the prices would have come down. He said the government is reluctant to ban futures trading even as speculators booked Rs. 15 lakh crore profit. Similarly, it did not take any action against hoarders.
He said the rise in prices of essential commodities has created a situation right in the first year of the government that it has started counting its support in the Lok Sabha, something usually done towards the end of the tenure.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Hike in fuel price to make food costlier
Consumers who felt relieved with the prices of essential commodities coming down in the recent past are worried again. Due to the hike in the prices of petroleum products, prices of essential commodities are likely to shoot up again.
Traders say the prices of pulses, rice and other essentials are set to increase in the coming weeks. The Greater Hyderabad Dal Millers and Wholesale Traders’ Association estimates that the hike in diesel prices will impose a burden of Rs 200 per quintal on pulses. This will further go up by the time the product reaches consumers through retailers.
“In the recent past, pulses were available at affordable rates due to an increase in production. The prices are likely to go up again because of the burden of transport charges,” said Mr Rajendra Kimtee, the president of the association.
Currently, red gram is available at Rs 58 per kg in the wholesale markets, black gram costs Rs 66 per ky and green gram Rs 79 per kg. Rice prices, which fell by 25 per cent recently, too are set to go up. The state government’s Rs 2 per kg rice scheme is going to be affected as well.
The APSRTC too is going to feel the pinch. The corporation has to bear an additional burden of Rs 160 crore with the hike in diesel prices.
The RTC, which spends Rs 1,500 crore every year for purchase 55 crore litres of diesel, is anticipating a financial crisis in the days to come. However, the officials have decided not to revise the RTC fares and pass on the burden to commuters.
About five lakh lorry owners too are on a warpath. Lorry owners say they are not in a position to bear an additional burden of Rs 2.5 per litre on diesel. Also, the prices of vehicles, including lorries, will go up with the increase in excise duty. Lorry prices are likely to go up by nearly Rs 50,000. Cost of tyres and spare parts will increase as well.
Traders say the prices of pulses, rice and other essentials are set to increase in the coming weeks. The Greater Hyderabad Dal Millers and Wholesale Traders’ Association estimates that the hike in diesel prices will impose a burden of Rs 200 per quintal on pulses. This will further go up by the time the product reaches consumers through retailers.
“In the recent past, pulses were available at affordable rates due to an increase in production. The prices are likely to go up again because of the burden of transport charges,” said Mr Rajendra Kimtee, the president of the association.
Currently, red gram is available at Rs 58 per kg in the wholesale markets, black gram costs Rs 66 per ky and green gram Rs 79 per kg. Rice prices, which fell by 25 per cent recently, too are set to go up. The state government’s Rs 2 per kg rice scheme is going to be affected as well.
The APSRTC too is going to feel the pinch. The corporation has to bear an additional burden of Rs 160 crore with the hike in diesel prices.
The RTC, which spends Rs 1,500 crore every year for purchase 55 crore litres of diesel, is anticipating a financial crisis in the days to come. However, the officials have decided not to revise the RTC fares and pass on the burden to commuters.
About five lakh lorry owners too are on a warpath. Lorry owners say they are not in a position to bear an additional burden of Rs 2.5 per litre on diesel. Also, the prices of vehicles, including lorries, will go up with the increase in excise duty. Lorry prices are likely to go up by nearly Rs 50,000. Cost of tyres and spare parts will increase as well.
