PAC says it will take a decision in a day or 2
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 3
The Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur has issued a notification informing of the constitution of a District Level Price Monitoring Committee. A copy of the notification dated October 1, 2019 stated that the Committee will be headed by the DC as Chairperson and 11 other members.
The members include the Director or a representative of Department of Geology & Mining, Commissioner of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), DMC Administrator, Assistant Director of the Food & Civil Supplies, Divisional Forest Officer, Chief Veterinary Officer, President of the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry, President of the Brick Field Owners Union, President of the Hardware Merchant’s Association and SDO (Civil), Sadar as Member Secretary.
It outlined the functions of the Committee as evolving effective mechanism to monitor and control prices of essential commodities and fixing prices of all essential commodities periodically while “allowing rational trade and transport margin and monitor price movement judiciously.” Maintaining and devising ways and means to contain trade malpractices, while keeping the State Level Price Monitoring Committee updated of the local market situation were its other functions specified.
Reviving an existing and inactive District Price Regulation Committee (DPRC) was one of the main demands of the Public Action Committee of the Naga Council, Dimapur (PAC) during its recent 6-day vigil to check illegal monetary collection by government agencies, Naga Political Groups and transport unions at the government check-posts in Dimapur in the month of September.
As per the PAC, the vigil at the check-posts was part of a broader campaign to rouse the government into putting a stop to a well entrenched culture of illegal taxation orchestrated with impunity right under the nose of the government authorities. It maintained that illegal taxation on goods transporters was the main factor contributing to unprecedented price escalation in the market in Dimapur.
The demand to revive the DPRC was outlined in a representation to the DC by the PAC on September 20. The last time the DPRC had revised prices in Dimapur was said to have been in 2012.
The DC was asked to act on the demand within a week’s time but missed the deadline. Four days after the expiry of the deadline, the PAC on October 1 announced an indefinite bandh (shutdown) of Dimapur from October 7.
The PAC maintained that it was acting as stated in its September 20 representation to the DC and that the indefinite bandh call was endorsed by 19 units of the Naga Council, Dimapur and other frontal organization, including business bodies at a joint public meeting on October 1.
PAC Convenor Vekhosayi Nyekha when contacted by The Morung Express today said that it was still to react to the DC’s notification. Asked whether the constitution of the Price Regulation Committee merits cause to call off the indefinite bandh scheduled from October 7, he said that the PAC will take a decision in a day or two.
