Chennai: With the prices of essential food items such as rice, pulses, and sugar having risen sharply across the country, Communist Party of India state secretary M. Veerapandian has urged the Central and State governments to take wartime-footing measures to control the prices of all essential commodities.
In a statement issued regarding this, he said that the prices of essential food items such as rice, pulses, and sugar have risen sharply across the country. In particular, they have increased steeply in the southern states, including Tamil Nadu. The prices of some rice varieties, including Ponni, have gone up by as much as 50 percent. As a result, some premium rice varieties are being sold for as much as Rs. 90 per kg. This price hike is severely affecting poor and middle-class families.
The price of one kilogram of sugar, which was sold for Rs. 48 two months ago, has now risen to as much as Rs. 70. It is said that sugar production has declined because a large quantity of sugarcane is being used for ethanol production, and as a result, prices have increased. It is said that about 25 lakh tonnes of sugarcane have been diverted for ethanol production. The central government's policy of blending 20 percent ethanol in petrol is the main reason for this. As festival seasons like Diwali approach, the demand for sugar will increase. In this situation, the rise in its price will severely affect ordinary people. Due to the increase in sugar prices, there is a risk that the prices of tea and coffee in hotels will rise again.
Already, the price of cooking gas cylinders for commercial establishments was sharply increased. As a result, even at roadside tea shops, the price of tea rose to as much as Rs. 15. The price of coffee rose to as much as Rs. 20. Now, the price of rice has also risen sharply.
This price hike has occurred due to factors including crop damage in Karnataka, damage to kuruvai cultivation in Tamil Nadu, hoarding, and online trading.
Ponni rice has increased to over Rs. 90. Idli rice has increased to Rs. 35. Likewise, pulses have also become more expensive. Urad dal has risen from Rs. 120 per kg to Rs. 150, gram dal from Rs. 80 to Rs. 100, and coriander from Rs. 160 to Rs. 250. As a result, poor and ordinary people have been severely affected. To control this price hike, both the Central Government and the State Government must take action on a war footing.
All essential commodities should be provided to the public at lower prices through fair price shops. He has urged the Tamil Nadu government to provide essential food items such as rice, pulses, and sugar free of cost to people from poor families.
