Date:12/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071254630700.htm

National

Militant-imposed taxes cause price hike, scarcity: Minister

Correspondent

Government rice being sold at Rs. 20 a kg in Manipur

IMPHAL: Manipur Food and Civil Supplies Minister Yungkham Erabot on Friday said there was an artificial shortage of essential commodities and price hike as militants imposed illegal taxes. One kg of rice supplied by the government at Rs. 3.36 was being sold at Rs. 20.

Mr. Erabot said the illegal taxes led to a hike in transportation and handling charges.

The militants were preventing agents from lifting rice, sugar, kerosene, etc, from Food Corporation godowns if the illegal taxes were not paid.

Memoranda

Some voluntary organisations recently submitted memoranda to the Governor about the abnormal hike in rice price.