With Durga Puja approaching, the Tripura government has intensified preparations to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities and prevent any disruption in supply during the festive season.
The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department recently held a high-level review meeting to assess the supply and distribution arrangements across the state. The meeting was chaired by the department’s Principal Secretary and attended by officials and representatives from various sectors involved in the supply chain.
Director of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Sumit Lodh said representatives of LPG distributors, petroleum companies including IOCL and BPCL, merchant and business associations, ration shop dealers, District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police and other stakeholders participated in the discussions.
According to Lodh, the department’s immediate priority is to ensure that consumers have easy access to essential commodities throughout the Puja period without facing shortages or abnormal price increases.
“During Puja, we want to ensure that the supply of all essential commodities reaches the people smoothly at affordable prices,” Lodh said.
The authorities also discussed measures to curb hoarding, black marketing and other unfair trade practices during the festive season. Lodh said strict action would be taken against those found violating the rules or attempting to exploit increased consumer demand.
The meeting further examined transportation and logistics arrangements for maintaining a steady flow of essential commodities. Officials discussed supply routes, movement of vehicles carrying essential goods and security measures needed to ensure their uninterrupted transportation.
Lodh said close coordination among government departments, district administrations, police, distributors, traders and other stakeholders would be maintained throughout the festive period.
The department is also working to ensure that increased demand during Durga Puja is met efficiently while keeping essential commodities available to consumers at reasonable prices.
