Cuttack: Panic buying amid cyclone threat has left the essential commodities out of reach of common man.
The wholesale and retail prices of commodities like potato, onion, bitten rice, pulses and sugar have gone up due to a sudden surge in demand.
Hundreds of people were seen rushing to Chhatrabazar and Malgodown areas to purchase essential commodities despite rain, Wednesday. It is learnt that the prices of onion, potato and pulses have gone up by anywhere between Rs 250 and Rs 300 per quintal in the wholesale markets here.
On the other hand, the prices of potato, onion and other vegetables have witnessed a rising trend by up to Rs 20 per kg in the retail markets here.
“There were reports that Cyclonic Storm Titli will hit the state early Thursday morning. We thought that we should keep stock of essential commodities to meet any eventuality. Now, potato price has gone up to Rs 40 per kg and that of onion reached Rs 35,” said Raghunath Sahu, a consumer from Nuabazar area.
Sahdev Samal, another consumer from Buxibazar area, claimed that wholesalers and retailers of essential commodities were charging high prices to cash in on the demand surge. “The civil supplies officials should keep tabs on the unusual rise in prices of vegetables and other essential commodities,” Samal said.
However, a trader from Chhatrabazar claimed that the wholesale market has not received fresh supplies of essential goods due to bad weather Wednesday. “The prices may remain high till Thursday,” he said.
Meanwhile, Collector Aravind Agrawal reviewed the district administration’s preparedness to deal with the cyclonic storm. He asked the officials of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to take all possible steps to avoid waterlogging in the city. “People should not be panic. We will take steps to deal with sudden rise in prices of essential commodities,” Agrawal said.
CMC Commissioner Sarat Chandra Nayak said a round-the-clock control room has been opened to solve waterlogging issues in the city.
Barabati-Cuttack MLA Debashish Samantaray also held discussions with the district administration and the CMC to ensure basic services to people.
