In a decisive move to protect consumers from festive profiteering, the Assam Fisheries Department has issued a directive to all District Commissioners (DCs) to immediately fix retail prices for fish ahead of Magh Bihu. The order, aimed at preventing abnormal price hikes, comes as demand surges for traditional Uruka feasts and Bihu celebrations starting next Tuesday.
Directive to Fix Fair Prices and Form Monitoring Panels
The department has instructed DCs to notify reasonable retail prices for commonly consumed fish varieties during the Magh Bihu period. Officials stated that these prices must be determined after carefully considering production costs, transportation charges, and standard market margins. The objective is to ensure fairness for both consumers and traders in the market.
Beyond price fixation, the directive mandates the formation of district-level monitoring committees. These panels will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the government-notified prices on the ground.
Curbing Hoarding and Artificial Scarcity
The government's intervention is a direct response to frequent complaints of market exploitation during the festive season. An official highlighted that some traders exploit the surge in demand around Uruka by hoarding stocks and quoting exorbitant rates, particularly in urban markets like Guwahati. This practice creates artificial scarcity and leads to sharp, unjustified price spikes.
The newly formed monitoring committees will include fisheries officials, representatives from food and civil supplies departments, and enforcement agencies. Their primary task will be to conduct inspections in major fish markets to ensure compliance with the price structure.
In cases of violation, the committees are empowered to recommend punitive measures. These actions may include penalties or other legal proceedings, to be coordinated with the district administration and police.
Boosting Supply to Stabilize the Market
Recognizing that price control must be supported by adequate supply, state agencies and cooperatives have also stepped in. Organizations like FISHFED have increased the supply of farmed fish to key markets to help stabilize prices and ensure availability.
This move is critical because fish is a central component of traditional Uruka feasts and Magh Bihu celebrations. Its availability and affordability are sensitive issues for households across Assam. The state's annual fish requirement is substantial, estimated at around 5 lakh metric tonnes (500,000 tonnes), based on a per capita consumption of 11-15 kg for its population of approximately 35 million.
However, local production falls short of meeting this demand. To bridge the gap, Assam imports between 11,000 to 15,000 metric tonnes of fish from other states annually. The current measures aim to manage this demand-supply dynamic effectively during the high-pressure festive period, ensuring celebrations are not marred by inflated costs.
