Arunchal cracks down those selling salt at exorbitant rates

With reports of salt being sold at exorbitant rates in the open market in Arunachal Pradesh, the authorities today launched a crackdown on unscrupulous traders, while assuring that there was sufficient stock and there was no need to panic.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kamlung Mosang said that the state had a stock of 23,000 quintals of salt with the public distribution system zonal nominees, which could meet requirements for the next few months.

Mosang instructed all DCs to carry out surprise checks to contain the artificial crisis and to ensure monitoring of market rates as per provisions of relevant law in force.

"The deputy commissioners have been asked to place indent to the respective zonal nominees immediately as per the monthly allocation for onward distribution to the consumers," he said in a statement.

He appealed to people not to panic over rumours of salt crisis which he said was created by petty traders to earn easy money by exploiting the situation.