TURA: At a time when most citizens seek out the best affordable prices for fish and meat products to take back to their kitchens; the Tura Municipal Board appears to have moved in the opposite direction.
A new price list for pork, beef, chicken, mutton, fish and vegetables released by the Tura Municipal Board a week ago has angered consumers and raised questions over the manner in which the decision was taken by the board officials to raise the prices since it immensely benefits the meat traders at the expense of the public.
The anger among the meat loving citizens of Tura is palpable given that meat prices have been steadily rising each year.
Among the 36 items of fish and meat products new rates that were released by the TMB, the raised prices on pork, fish and chicken have become the centre of the storm.
Pork which was being sold for Rs 250 a kilogram was raised to Rs 270. Even as consumers were reeling under the new price tag, the Tura Municipal Board has further pushed the rates to put the figure at Rs 280.
Chicken that was being sold in Tura bazaar for Rs 200 is now at Rs 240/kg.
The story is the same with fish with the most common item ‘Rohu’ now selling at Rs 200.
The decision of the board to go ahead with the price rise without consulting the stakeholders of Tura has had a telling effect.
Some butchers complain that angry consumers are refusing to buy meat and chicken under the new prices leading to altercations in the early morning hours. Restaurateurs are worried too.
Tura Bodies demand cancellation of new prices
Meanwhile, several local bodies and organizations have called for a roll back of the Tura Municipal Board prices.
Expressing strong resentment over the price hike, the New Tura Development forum called on West Garo Hills DC Ram Singh to register a protest.
Hitting out at TMB for its claims that the decision was taken after a public meeting with ‘all’ stake holders, the New Tura Development forum clarified that a majority of the stakeholders, including themselves (NTDF), were not informed of the meet.
Demanding that the board rescind the order, the forum leaders urged that authorities ensure no arbitrarily hike takes place without proper discussion with the general public who have been hit the hardest by the latest municipal decision.
Meanwhile, another group of area development committees of Tura, namely Boldak A’ding, Nikrang A’ding, Balading, Durama Development Society, Tura Balading committee, Upper Babupara committees have also submitted a joint petition to the deputy commissioner raising concern at the new municipal rates.
The committees are also calling for the establishment of a ‘Price Monitoring Board’ which should be headed by the deputy commissioner.
Other issues which have been brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner was the excessive charging by labourers engaged in work in and around Tura and the disparity in parking fees being collected at Tura market and the Urban parking area and sought its regulation.
The committees also appealed to West Garo Hills DC to review the initiatives pertaining to preserve and protect Tura peak and Durama Range.
