Manipur caps prices of 18 food items ahead of Ningol Chakkouba

The Manipur government has set maximum wholesale and retail prices for 18 essential food items in five valley districts, so that shops cannot raise rates during the busy shopping period before Ningol Chakkouba on November 11.

The order comes from the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department, numbered EC-103/1/2021-CAFANDPD-CAF&PD. It uses Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and takes effect at once until further notice, Imphal Times reported, citing the secretariat order. Northeast Now carried the same ceilings on Sunday.

The notified rates apply in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. In Churachandpur and Pherzawl, retailers may charge up to Rs 4 more than the valley ceilings.

What shops may charge

Among the retail caps listed in the order, Grade-I Matar (Mangal) is fixed at Rs 70 a kg and Matar dal at Rs 76. Old potatoes cannot be sold for more than Rs 28 a kg and new potatoes for more than Rs 30. White onions are capped at Rs 50 and red onions at Rs 53. Medium-grade sugar is set at Rs 76 and special-grade sugar at Rs 78.

Masur dal is capped at Rs 90, Rs 100 and Rs 150 a kg for the big, medium and special grades. Arhar dal ranges from Rs 130 to Rs 142, and Moong dal is set at Rs 120 for Grade-II and Rs 125 for Grade-I. Kala dal is listed between Rs 135 and Rs 150 a kg.

Atta and maida are both capped at Rs 50 a kg. Andhra Permal rice is fixed at Rs 58 and UP rice at Rs 55. Small garlic is capped at Rs 190 a kg and large garlic at Rs 260. Mustard oil, Ruchi oil and refined soybean oil are included, with rates given for 13-kg tins. Salt is to be sold at the printed maximum retail price.

Every wholesale and retail outlet that deals in the notified items must display its wholesale and retail rates at the shop. Officials said the figures are ceilings, not recommended selling prices, and that the government may revise them if wholesale supplies change.

Checks in the markets

The Legal Metrology Department, under Controller Y. Nelson Singh, is inspecting weighing instruments and packaged goods during the festive season, the same reports said. That drive is meant to stop short-weight sales and overcharging beyond the marked price. It follows a four-day check at Imphal's Ima Keithel earlier this month, when inspectors found some weights that had been hollowed out and lightened.

Separately, volunteers of the All Manipur Students' Union inspected shops at Thangal and Paona Keithel on Saturday. The Sangai Express reported that many outlets were not showing the government rates, while others were following them and had put up the lists. Union general secretary Salam Changkhonba asked shopkeepers not to take advantage of the festival and called on the government to act against anyone selling above the notified prices.

Ningol Chakkouba is one of Manipur's main festivals, when married women visit their parental homes and families buy fish, rice, pulses and other food in large quantities. The price order is intended to keep those purchases within the published ceilings through the festival period.