Grocery prices shoot up as stocks shrink in Mukatsar

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 29

As the curfew entered the seventh day on Sunday, the supply of grocery products has yet not smoothened and the prices of goods remain high. The price of moong daal has increased from Rs 105 to Rs 120 per kg. Similarly, the sugar price has gone up by Rs 4 per kg. The price of 10-kg wheat flour bag has risen by Rs 10.

A grocery store owner said the prices had increased owing to the high demand and lack of fresh supply. “In the beginning of the curfew, we sold goods at the previous prices. But after our purchase prices went up, we had no option than to charge higher from customers,” he said.

Satpal Pathela, the president of the Kiryana Merchants’ Association, Muktsar, said: “The prices of a few items have gone up. Though the flour mills have started functioning, but there isn’t fresh supply of wheat. So, the prices have risen. The district administration should take steps to streamline the supply of essential goods, including food items.” In the past one week, retailers have not received fresh stock of grocery products, he added.

The administration has allowed only those grocery stores to open that can offer door-to-door supply of products. “There are 150 grocery stores in the town and the administration has permitting only 10 to 15 stores to open on any day,” said a grocery store owner.

Muktsar DC MK Aravind Kumar, said: “The residents can complain against shopkeepers who hoard or overcharge customers and strict action against will be taken against such retailers.”