Gangtok joins embarrassing panic buying spree
GANGTOK, 15 Nov: Catching up late to rumours which originated in Bihar of salt supplies getting constricted, Gangtok witnessed panic buying today. People in the districts and Gangtok were clamoring to buy large supplies of salt. Many now have at least a year’s supply stored at home when there was no need for them to purchase even one packet!
The situation at Lall Bazaar, the busiest market place in Gangtok, turned frenetic in the morning today when rumours spread that salt would be out of supply soon. Such was the panic that in some instances, shopkeepers had to call the police for assistance to keep the panic buyers in check even as allegations and counter rumours of hoarding and black marketeering spread.
Government officials from the district administration, GMC, UD&HD accompanied by officials of FS&CA department visited and inspected dozens of shops and several godowns in town this afternoon.
Although no arrests were made by the joint-inspection team today, DC [East], AK Singh informed that many shopkeepers were questioned on all possibilities of hoarding and maintained that the administration is taking the matter very seriously.
“The shopkeepers were told that they could be booked under the Essential Commodities Act and could also be arrested by the police if prices of essential commodities were hiked owing to such rumours,” stated Mr. Singh.
He further informed that in Sikkim as per the report of the FS&CA department, there was sufficient stock of salt and that people did not panic unnecessarily. However, he added that some vested interests in such market places were using the rumour to facilitate illegal hoarding of the commodity.
In this regard, he added that as soon as the administration got complaints that some shops in Lall Bazaar had told customers that they had no salt in the shops, the officials intervened and normalized the situation.
“Some shopkeepers told customers that there was no salt in the shop at the time but did not tell them that there was sufficient stock in the godowns. This communication gap also created some panic initially but after the matter was resolved and salt sold to all the customers at the normal price the situation relaxed,” the DC added.
He added that as soon as the administration intervened, the commotion at the market was diffused and salt was sold to all the customers who were lined up.
“We have made it clear that strict action will be taken against anyone selling salt above the notified price and are also ready to raid any premises trying to take advantage of the situation. There is no need to worry about the stock since the state warehouses are completely full of the commodity. There is no crisis and we are closely monitoring and observing all angles of illegal hoarding,” explained the DC.
He also informed that no arrests were made today because no shopkeeper was found to be in gross violation of the Essential Commodities Act, but if any official complaints were made against any shopkeeper indulging in hoarding and black marketing then the administration would take the most stringent steps to curb the same.
Cops step in to ease panic in North Sikkim
MANGAN, 15 Nov: In North Sikkim, the Superintendent of Police (N), Ramniwas Yadav, inspected the Mangan bazaar to check on the salt supplies and the rates at which it was being sold.
The rumors meanwhile led to some people purchasing sacks of salt containing around 50 kgs of salt each.
Since such panic buying could actually cause a shortage in the area, the SP North personally urged shopkeepers and customers to not encourage such practice. He appealed to shopkeepers and customers to sell and buy salt enough for a single family.
The shopkeepers were also directed by the SP and Food & Civil Supplies department, North district, not to sell salt in huge amounts otherwise legal action would be initiated against both customer and shopkeeper.
2,500 packets sold in Namchi in one day
…AND THERE IS STILL NO SHORTAGE
NAMCHI, 15 Nov: Rumours of the impending shortage of salt supply reached South Sikkim as well today. People in most of the South district towns were seen rushing to shops to stock up on salt. Soon the price of salt escalated selling for as much as Rs 60 per kg for what would normally cost around Rs. 15.
The district administration was alerted and a team headed by SDM Namchi, Karma R Bonpo, DCSO (South) PC Rai and Assistant District Collector visited the shops at Namchi and also alerted the shops of other towns of the district.
The shopkeepers were issued an advisory not to charge more than the printed price and also to sell limited quantities of salt to consumers [to avoid panic-buying induced shortage]. The consumers were also informed that there is no such scarcity of salt in the district and the state as a whole and the Food and Civil Supplies department has adequate stock of salt.
Despite these measures, local residents still flocked to shops to buy extra supplies of salt, “just in case”.
In Namchi, more than 2,500 packets of iodised salt of one kg each were sold today apart from loose salt, it is learnt. SDM Namchi, Karma R Bonpo blamed rumors in Siliguri for the situation in South district. He has urged people of the district not to believe in such rumors and panic.
DCSO, South PC Rai said that rumors started early this morning and as soon as the shops opened people started queuing up to buy their stock of salt. An advisory was issued to all the shop owners of the district and consumers were also asked to complain to his office if any shopkeeper was found charging more than the printed price. However, he added, that by evening the situation was under control.
He also informed that at present Namchi still has stock of 1,500 one kg packets of salt each and 185 bags of loose salt containing 50 kgs each. Similarly, Ravangla has 80 quintals of 1 kg packets and 15 bags of loose salt while Jorethang has 250 packets of 1 kg each along with 15 bags of loose salt. Melli also has a good supply of salt and late in the evening more stocks reached the border town, he added.
Reiterating that there is no shortage in salt supplies, DCSO Mr. Rai also informed that as per the daily arrangement more consignments of packaged as well as loose salt is reaching the towns of South district by this evening.
GANGTOK, 15 Nov: Catching up late to rumours which originated in Bihar of salt supplies getting constricted, Gangtok witnessed panic buying today. People in the districts and Gangtok were clamoring to buy large supplies of salt. Many now have at least a year’s supply stored at home when there was no need for them to purchase even one packet!
The situation at Lall Bazaar, the busiest market place in Gangtok, turned frenetic in the morning today when rumours spread that salt would be out of supply soon. Such was the panic that in some instances, shopkeepers had to call the police for assistance to keep the panic buyers in check even as allegations and counter rumours of hoarding and black marketeering spread.
Government officials from the district administration, GMC, UD&HD accompanied by officials of FS&CA department visited and inspected dozens of shops and several godowns in town this afternoon.
Although no arrests were made by the joint-inspection team today, DC [East], AK Singh informed that many shopkeepers were questioned on all possibilities of hoarding and maintained that the administration is taking the matter very seriously.
“The shopkeepers were told that they could be booked under the Essential Commodities Act and could also be arrested by the police if prices of essential commodities were hiked owing to such rumours,” stated Mr. Singh.
He further informed that in Sikkim as per the report of the FS&CA department, there was sufficient stock of salt and that people did not panic unnecessarily. However, he added that some vested interests in such market places were using the rumour to facilitate illegal hoarding of the commodity.
In this regard, he added that as soon as the administration got complaints that some shops in Lall Bazaar had told customers that they had no salt in the shops, the officials intervened and normalized the situation.
“Some shopkeepers told customers that there was no salt in the shop at the time but did not tell them that there was sufficient stock in the godowns. This communication gap also created some panic initially but after the matter was resolved and salt sold to all the customers at the normal price the situation relaxed,” the DC added.
He added that as soon as the administration intervened, the commotion at the market was diffused and salt was sold to all the customers who were lined up.
“We have made it clear that strict action will be taken against anyone selling salt above the notified price and are also ready to raid any premises trying to take advantage of the situation. There is no need to worry about the stock since the state warehouses are completely full of the commodity. There is no crisis and we are closely monitoring and observing all angles of illegal hoarding,” explained the DC.
He also informed that no arrests were made today because no shopkeeper was found to be in gross violation of the Essential Commodities Act, but if any official complaints were made against any shopkeeper indulging in hoarding and black marketing then the administration would take the most stringent steps to curb the same.
Cops step in to ease panic in North Sikkim
MANGAN, 15 Nov: In North Sikkim, the Superintendent of Police (N), Ramniwas Yadav, inspected the Mangan bazaar to check on the salt supplies and the rates at which it was being sold.
The rumors meanwhile led to some people purchasing sacks of salt containing around 50 kgs of salt each.
Since such panic buying could actually cause a shortage in the area, the SP North personally urged shopkeepers and customers to not encourage such practice. He appealed to shopkeepers and customers to sell and buy salt enough for a single family.
The shopkeepers were also directed by the SP and Food & Civil Supplies department, North district, not to sell salt in huge amounts otherwise legal action would be initiated against both customer and shopkeeper.
2,500 packets sold in Namchi in one day
…AND THERE IS STILL NO SHORTAGE
NAMCHI, 15 Nov: Rumours of the impending shortage of salt supply reached South Sikkim as well today. People in most of the South district towns were seen rushing to shops to stock up on salt. Soon the price of salt escalated selling for as much as Rs 60 per kg for what would normally cost around Rs. 15.
The district administration was alerted and a team headed by SDM Namchi, Karma R Bonpo, DCSO (South) PC Rai and Assistant District Collector visited the shops at Namchi and also alerted the shops of other towns of the district.
The shopkeepers were issued an advisory not to charge more than the printed price and also to sell limited quantities of salt to consumers [to avoid panic-buying induced shortage]. The consumers were also informed that there is no such scarcity of salt in the district and the state as a whole and the Food and Civil Supplies department has adequate stock of salt.
Despite these measures, local residents still flocked to shops to buy extra supplies of salt, “just in case”.
In Namchi, more than 2,500 packets of iodised salt of one kg each were sold today apart from loose salt, it is learnt. SDM Namchi, Karma R Bonpo blamed rumors in Siliguri for the situation in South district. He has urged people of the district not to believe in such rumors and panic.
DCSO, South PC Rai said that rumors started early this morning and as soon as the shops opened people started queuing up to buy their stock of salt. An advisory was issued to all the shop owners of the district and consumers were also asked to complain to his office if any shopkeeper was found charging more than the printed price. However, he added, that by evening the situation was under control.
He also informed that at present Namchi still has stock of 1,500 one kg packets of salt each and 185 bags of loose salt containing 50 kgs each. Similarly, Ravangla has 80 quintals of 1 kg packets and 15 bags of loose salt while Jorethang has 250 packets of 1 kg each along with 15 bags of loose salt. Melli also has a good supply of salt and late in the evening more stocks reached the border town, he added.
Reiterating that there is no shortage in salt supplies, DCSO Mr. Rai also informed that as per the daily arrangement more consignments of packaged as well as loose salt is reaching the towns of South district by this evening.
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