At a time when prices of essential commodities are increasing day by day, unregulated price of vegetables has emerged as a new problem in the city with customers being forced to buy same product at different prices in New Market, Super market, Purana Bazaar and in colonies.
Over the past few months, vegetables were sold in the market at unreasonably high rates, particularly tomatoes, notwithstanding the fact that the perishable food items prices might vary depending on several conditions. This Reporter visited various markets in the city and found that the vendors were exploiting the customers by charging additional margin of Rs 10- 20 over the rate fixed by Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) for a particular day.
As per DMC rate fixation, prices of the vegetables were quoted for both wholesalers and retailers on daily basis and circulated on WhatsApp group, social media etc.
DMC Staff however admitted that they have no control over the prices in the wholesale market since these fluctuated depending on the availability of produces.
Speaking to this Reporter, some prominent wholesalers at Marwaripatti attributed the hike in the prices due to import of vegetable items from outside Nagaland and from places such as Bangalore, Indore, Nasik, Patna, Shillong, Bomdila and Assam.
However, when asked for any documentary proof of transportation of vegetables from other states and entry permit near Dilai gate and new field check gate, the traders admitted that truck drivers failed to produce any such documents.
When staff at DMC were asked about the matter, they also failed to provide clear answer on the matter. Instead, it was said that they fixed prices for wholesalers as per the verbal conversations with the wholesalers without any valid proof to show that the vegetables were being transported from sources outside and also admitted they were unaware of price manipulation by the vendors.
Several customers vented their ire that they were not made aware of such unethical practices.
A few customers even speculated that there could be a syndicate manipulating the prices since items were sold above rates fixed.
An elderly person expressed resentment at DMC for not creating public awareness with regard to fixed rates on vegetables and demanded that the council to install rate chart boards in all the major markets around Dimapur.
Till the time of filing this report, prices of tomatoes fixed by the DMC for the wholesalers on August 29 was Rs 40 per kg on imports from Bomdila, Rs 50 p/kg on import from Bangalore and Nasik. For the retailers, the rates were fixed at Rs 50, Rs 60 and Rs 60 respectively.
However, when asked about the price and quality of tomatoes, a retailer at Super Market area claimed that the tomatoes were from Shillong over which DMC had not confirmed.