Dimapur: PAC’s indefinite bandh postponed

UPDATED 

Expresses reservations on make-up of newly instituted Price Monitoring Committee

Morung Express News 
Dimapur | October 5

The indefinite bandh in Dimapur, which was scheduled to start from October 7, has been postponed. The Public Action Committee (PAC) of the Naga Council, Dimapur informed that the decision to postpone was taken on October 5. 

PAC Convenor Vekhosayi Nyekha told The Morung Express that the bandh will be kept in abeyance till the District Level Price Monitoring Committee (DLPMC) goes to work. He added, “But we have reservations on the price monitoring committee constituted by the Deputy Commissioner.”

The postponement was attributed partly to the ensuing Durga Puja celebrations and the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur notifying the formation of the DLPMC as demanded by the PAC. The DC was also said to have appealed the PAC to consider calling off the bandh unconditionally. 

It had submitted a representation to the DC on September 20 demanding the revival of an existing but inactive District Price Regulation Committee (DPRC) within a week. The deadline could not be met and the PAC on October 1 announced an indefinite shutdown of Dimapur from October 7 pending the revival of the DPRC and reviewing of market prices. 

Coincidentally, a price review body christened District Level Price Monitoring Committee was instituted by the DC on October 1. The PAC was informed of the development on October 3.  

In a statement to the media, the PAC said that its Core Committee met on October 5 and decided to defer the bandh. The statement said that during the DC’s meeting with the tribal hoho presidents and representatives of other frontal organizations of Dimapur, the former had informed of the constitution of the DLPMC “to evolve mechanism to monitor and control price of essential commodities in Dimapur.”

It added that the PAC decided to postpone the bandh on account of appeals made by the DC, Hindu Seva Samiti and the Bengali Samaj, Dimapur at the October 3 meeting to take into consideration the Durga Puja celebrations. 

“PAC have decided to wait till 19 October 2019, where the Sub-Committee constituted by DC Dimapur will bring out their report with price list of commodities from neighbouring towns, district and states for comparison and finalization,” it said.

It maintained that the PAC has not called off the indefinite bandh entirely “but is only providing a space to the administration to rectify the anomalies within the above mentioned period.” 

It added, the “PAC will certainly look for support to fight together with all likeminded organisations for the welfare of the society, districts and state in general.”

As per the statement, the PAC’s “reservations” was on the membership of the newly constituted DLPMC and added that it will forward an appeal in this regard to the DC for redressal.   

The DLPMC members as notified by the DC 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.  

 
In its September 20 representation to the DC, the PAC had proposed the inclusion of two PAC members in the district price review committee. 

It further appreciated support extended by the tribal hohos, organizations and individuals “in its effort to fight illegal collection of money and normalize prices of all commodities.” It made mention of the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO), Nagaland Government Registered Class-1 Contractors Union (NGRC-1CU) and Kohima District Truck Owners and Drivers Union (KDTODU), who it stated “have vocally come out in support of the PAC, understanding the gravity of calling an ‘indefinite bandh’.”