Sarthak Kanjilal
Campbell Bay, Oct 31: It’s ‘Hard to swallow’ but due to no control over the soaring prices of vegetables in the Great Nicobar Island, the residents are forced to ‘pay through their nose’ to buy vegetables.
Many residents coming from a middle class family in the area have also started skipping vegetables to ‘tighten their belt’ as they have to also manage the other expenses at their home.
Even the residents those have deep pockets are disappointed as they feel unfair. “We are also the resident of these islands and thus the rate of vegetables in every island must be the same, instead, as we are staying in far flung island we must be given some benefits,” said Mr N Ajith Goldie, a resident of the island.
As per reports, citing the reason of shipping charges, the vegetable vendors are charging Rs 05 to Rs 10 extra in each vegetable from the consumers.
This is not the end of misery, even the vendors of general stores in the area are charging more than the MRP for packed items by violating the norms.
Also to their utter dismay, for 20 liters water can that costs around Rs 70 in Port Blair, resident of Campbell Bay had to spend Rs 150 for the same.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, the Vice President, Bhartiya Janta Party, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr Sanjay Singh, who is also a resident of Campbell Bay said that the rates of vegetables are even higher, if the cargo is coming directly to Campbell Bay from Chennai and the reason is not known.
“The administration has a committee that must fix the price of the goods coming from mainland; they should also decide the profit percentage of the businessmen let it be 10% or 20%. Until and unless the administration does something, the businessmen will only be benefitted but not the public, for whom the administration is taking all the pain,” said Mr Singh.
Mr Sanjay also said that the most affected are the people of inter islands after the implementation of GST, he specified that, according to the private companies, they think only Port Blair is a market for them and hence they avail the GST facility of supply of goods till Port Blair itself.
Mr Singh said that the vendors here are not cheating to public but because of the freight and other charges they had to increase the rate above the MRP and sell their goods otherwise; it will be a loss for them.
“The matter has been highlighted many a time to the administration but they are maintaining stoic silence in this regard,” Mr Singh added.
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