Despite local newspapers revealing the news of salt scarcity in Dimapur were rumours, residents in Kohima went on panic buying Friday while
Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), Supply department and Kohima Police jointly conducted inspections of various trade and grocery shops. There were reports that some shops sold a kilo of salt for Rs.20 to Rs.70 per kilo at various localities.
At High School Junction, panic stricken public did not allow transporters to unload essential goods and salt as they rushed to unload essential commodities themselves.
In the morning , long queues, mostly women, were seen at grocery shops in almost all the colonies and in the commotion, some bags of salt were also lifted.
People from neighbouring villages also called up their families in Kohima to buy and stock salt as the stocks in their villages were exhausted.
Elizabeth Ngully,Chief Executive Officer KMC, appealed to public against panic buying since there was enough stock of salt with stockists and wholesalers.
She also asked consumers to pay as per printed price and warned traders of stern action if anyone sold above the printed price.
Some Wards in Kohima Town have warned shopkeepers not to sell above the printed price or else face consequences.
The Food & Civil Supplies department has assured that there were enough stocks available in the market while more quantities were on the way through road and rail.
Joint verification
Officials of food and civil supplies (F&CS) department carried out a physical verification November 15 along with the Dimapur district administration (DBs) and police.
F&CS director Sedevikho Khro urged the public not to panic as there was sufficient stocks of salt. He informed that 94,000 kgs of Everyday/Prime I/O Plus have been distributed to the wholesalers of Dimapur. He also said there was still a balance of 5 lakh kgs of iodised salt in the godown of the distributor.
Rumours in Mkg, Wka
Citizens of Mokokchung were also gripped by the rumours as many started panic buying from early hours Friday.
Timely intervention by the district administration and Chamber of Commerce however stopped the panic buying spree.
Wokha town also experienced ‘salt panic’ with residents rushing to stores from early morning till afternoon Friday.
DC Wokha Vyasan addressed the public through PA system asking them not to panic as two truckloads of salt would arrive Wokha by Saturday morning. The DC warned that shopkeepers who hoard salt and hike prices would be sternly dealt with.
BJYM appeals
State Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has condemned the rumours and asked the public not to fall prey without knowing the fact.
BJYM general secretary (organisation) Mathew K Janger also urged the competent authority to take immediate precaution to check prices and the law-enforcing agency to trace out those involved and befitting punishment as per the provision of law.
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