SHILLONG: The East Khasi Hills district administration has taken strong exception to the one-week strike of the All Meghalaya Poultry Suppliers’ & Retailers’ Association (AMPSRA) which began here on Thursday.
“I am not able to understand the purpose of holding of this strike. The Association is unhappy with the increase of the rates of poultry from Assam. But the issue would not be resolve by holding a strike in Meghalaya since it is an inter-State issue,” East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said here on Thursday.
He said that the traders in Assam will not reduce the rate of poultry due to a strike in Meghalaya since Guwahati is a bigger market.
“If the grievances are really genuine then they should approach the Government for help. At my level, I would be able to assist them by talking with my counterpart in Guwahati to see if there is any irrational hike of the price by the traders from Assam,” Goyal said.
Meanwhile, he said that he has issued a directive asking the police to see that the members of the association do not force traders to keep their shutters down.
“I urge the aggrieved traders to complain to the police if anybody forces them to close down their shop,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
To a query on the possibility of poultry rates being hiked in the city due to the strike, Goyal said that members of the public should lodge complaint if there is any case of overcharging.
‘The authorities will have to take into account various factors including the price at which the trader has bought the chicken before initiating action. Due to shortage in the supply, the traders might have to make the purchase at a higher price and compel him to overcharge,” he added.
