GUWAHATI: Assam Industries Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary, at a meeting in Patshala on March 31 last, said that the state currently has a week’s supply of food available.
He added that problems might arise in the supply chain in the coming days. This was reported by a leading daily of the state.
It has also been reported from many areas of the city, especially from Kalapahar, that stocks of essential items have run out of stores and these have not been replenished with new supplies.
Prices of many essential items like rice, atta, maida, dal have also soared given the non-availability of products or due to a break in the supply chain.
Shivam Agarwal, a shop owner of the Bharalumukh area said, “Essential commodities are available as of now. But the prices of most items had to be increased as the wholesale owners are charging us more.”
When asked about the production date or packaging of these newly high priced goods, he mentioned that no new packaging or production have been supplied till date, but given the speculated shortage/lack of supply, many wholesalers are charging more as people are panic-buying.
It has to be mentioned that many flour mills and other such production houses have not yet resumed operations even after the government had exempted them from the lockdown. Further, as reported, although a few have been operating, the production lines do not have enough labour to cater to the current requirements.
When G Plus tried to enquire with the Food & Civil Supplies Department, the higher officials refrained from answering any question.