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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that new farm laws enacted by the Centre led to black advertising and marketing of potatoes and onions, inflicting their costs to rise sharply.
“The central government has made destructive farm laws leading to black marketing of essential food items like potato and onion,” the chief minister mentioned at an administrative assembly in Bankura district.
Banerjee mentioned that in a letter she advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Centre ought to both be certain that there isn’t a black advertising and marketing of these things or present states the mandatory energy to sort out the issue.
“Earlier we used to keep a check on prices of these essential food items but now the central Acts have robbed the states of their powers. This has caused losses to farmers as well as consumers. We also could not control the prices,” Banerjee mentioned.
The chief minister mentioned the state authorities shouldn’t be blamed for the excessive costs of things corresponding to potatoes and onions. They have been earlier within the checklist of important commodities, however in September, the Centre enacted the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, which eliminated cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oil, onions and potatoes from the checklist. “The Centre has made such an act that it [pricing] has gone into the hands of black marketeers,” Banerjee mentioned, accusing the Union authorities of looting farmers.
She identified that her authorities was nonetheless promoting potatoes at Rs 25 per kg from its “Sufal Bangla” retailers, utilizing the inventory it had procured earlier. Banerjee mentioned her authorities doesn’t know the way lengthy it might hold promoting potatoes at subsidised charges because the inventory will finish quickly, and below the new legislation the state can not replenish it.
She reiterated her criticism of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s go to to an Adivasi household within the district’s Chaturdihi village for lunch earlier this month.
She additionally mentioned the West Bengal authorities has not stopped its social welfare schemes and has paid salaries and pension usually regardless of tight fiscal situation attributable to little or no monetary assist from the Centre through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state has spent Rs 4500 crore for coronavirus therapy amenities from it’s personal coffers regardless of the tight monetary scenario, she mentioned at an administrative assessment assembly right here.
She mentioned that work for a Rs 2,500 crore World Bank undertaking to enhance irrigation amenities and flood safety measures within the Lower Damodar Basin benefitting the folks of 5 districts will begin from January.
(With PTI inputs)
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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