Businessmen deny creating “artificial scarcity”
Dimapur, May 14 (MExN): Owing to the sudden steep price hike in construction materials especially cement, the Dimapur district administration on Thursday conducted raids in cement warehouses across Dimapur town. Two teams, one led bythe Additional Deputy Commissioner and the other by the Deputy Commissioner along with police officials raided warehouses located in Dimapur.
The teams confiscated several cement bags from retailers at Signal Basti junction and another 5000 bags from businessmen Balram and Hariram’s warehouse near old ARTC.
The businessmen were brought down to Dimapur SP’s office to settle the matter in the presence of DC and SP. After mush deliberation, the DC informed that the confiscated cement bags will be sold at the rate of Rs. 240 per bag with effect from tomorrow in the presence of police officials. The dealers also agreed to lower the price of cement as per the existing rates of neighbouring states like Manipur and Assam etc. The DC informed that the fixation rates will come into effect in a day or two and no further increase or decrease of rate shall be done without approval of the Dimapur price rise committee.
The public in Dimapur had accused cement dealers of hoarding prices of construction materials following which the raids were carried out.
However, according to one cement dealer, the price of cement is still the same as it were earlier. In the presence of the ADC of Dimapur, the businessman said that unless it is a case of retailers hiking the prices individually, the market price has not inflated. The man explained that Bihar cement has not entered Dimapur for a few months due to election and train restrictions to Dimapur. The little that is available in the market is probably old stock, he said. Currently only Bokajan cement is available in the market for Rs. 310 to Rs. 320 per bag. However, during the raid in some places the said cement was being sold at Rs. 365 per bag.
The dealers argue that “there is no stock” and that it might take some time before the Bihar cement consignment returns to the market. So unless that happens, the businessmen say, contractors and construction work will continue to be obstructed. They also deny creating “artificial scarcity” in the market.
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