Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal on Tuesday cautioned shopkeepers in the district against hoarding and overpricing of essential commodities in the wake of heavy rains that lashed out the district for last two days.
He said it had come to his notice that certain shopkeepers were selling grocery items, vegetables, fruits, and other essentials at inflated prices, citing floods as a reason.
The Deputy Commissioner made it clear that such exploitative practices would not be tolerated, warning that violators would face strict legal consequences. He emphasized that ensuring timely availability of essential items at reasonable rates was a collective responsibility.
Dr. Aggarwal also directed the Food and Civil Supplies Department to carry out regular inspections in markets to check hoarding and artificial price rise. He appealed to shopkeepers to act responsibly and assured people that strict monitoring was being done to protect their interests.