Kohima witnesses ‘panic buying’ of fuel & essential commodities

September 5, 2024 12 Views No Comment

No shortage of essential commodities, fuel in Kohima, say DC & KCCI

Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 5

The denizens of the state capital Kohima engaged in ‘panic buying’ of fuel and other essential commodities today following the devastating landslides and road obstructions in multiple locations of National Highway-29 between Kohima and Dimapur on September 3.

This prompted the district administration, the police, and the KCCI to issue advisories and assurances of an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and fuel via alternate routes.

In a public advisory, Kohima Deputy Commissioner Kumar Ramnikant noted that the ‘panic buying’ of essential commodities and fuel was “driven by a mistaken belief in an impending shortage due to landslides that affected a portion of NH-29” on the night of September 3 and early September 4.

The DC informed all concerned that there is no actual shortage and urged the public to refrain from ‘panic buying.’

The District Administration of Kohima is actively collaborating with neighboring districts to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and fuel via alternate routes, it added.

In an update on X designated as “Important,” the Kohima Police also urged the public not to “resort to panic buying as the alternate routes for the supply of essential commodities into the district are still intact.”

Maintain normal purchases, urges KCCI
Meanwhile, the Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) requested the public to maintain normal purchases of food grains and other essential commodities and refrain from ‘bulk purchases and panic buying.’ This may lead to unwarranted confusion during such a situation, it said.

A press release issued by KCCI President Kezhazer Angami and General Secretary Henry Chisiite assured the public that food grains and other essential commodities are in stock and will be made available. It also directed its members not to entertain excessive procurements by ‘buyers out of panic.’

In addition, the KCCI has directed traders and shop owners to refrain from inflating prices or charging exorbitant rates for commodities in an attempt to exploit the situation and cautioned that penalties will be imposed for non-compliance.