Gogoi allays fear on salt scarcity in Assam

Guwahati: Panic about salt scarcity triggered by rumours in Assam led to it to being sold at even Rs 100 per kg, as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today that there was no scarcity and there was no need of panic. Following reports about salt scarcity in Bihar which halted supply to Assam, there was panic buying last night and and this morning with buyers jostling with each other to buy salt as much as possible.[caption id=“attachment_1232591” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  People tussle to buy Salt at a wholesale market at Fancy Bazaar in Guwahati on Friday. PTI[/caption] The buyers said that they bought the normally priced Rs 10 per kg salt at Rs 100 as it was essential for cooking. Gogoi in a statement appealed the people not to resort to panic buying “as there is no scarcity at all. There is no salt crisis as such in the state. “Some vested circles are trying to create panic by spreading rumours about the salt scarcity and create a law and order situation,” the chief minister said. The administration and the police have been asked to take action against hoarding and black marketing of salt. Principal secretary, Food and Civil Supplies SL Mewara said the state has 6,79,536 bags and packets of salt which would last at least six months. Mewara said the administration and police have been asked to take action against hoarders under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Nazrul Islam urged the people to report black market in salt to the police and directed the authorities to take strict action against unscrupulous businessmen. Five persons were arrested from Ganeshguri area of the capital complex and Abhayapuri, Chamariya, Goroimari and Kukurmara in Bongaigaon district for selling price at black market rates, official sources said. In Golaghat district, the police seized a truck loaded with smuggled salt, they said. The Dimahasao Business Association in NC Hills district announced that there was adequate stock of salt in the district and asked consumers not to buy salt above the printed price. PTI