CHENNAI: Facing a united Opposition over the steep rise in prices of essential commodities, the Tamil Nadu govt on Friday promised to roll out measures within days to ease the burden on consumers, attributing the surge partly to the Iran war and fuel crisis.Food, civil supplies, consumer protection and price control minister P Venkataraman told the Assembly that the govt was closely monitoring prices and would take “concrete measures” soon.The price monitoring committee was tracking 41 essential commodities across the state and would assess the situation and initiate action within three to four days, he said.Venkataraman was responding to a special call-attention motion moved by Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami and legislators from the PMK, Congress and Left parties.Udhayanidhi listed the sharp increase in prices over the past few months and recalled the special distribution scheme introduced by then cm M Karunanidhi in 2007, under which 11 essential grocery items were sold for Rs 50 through the PDS. The scheme, he said, was intended to shield people from price shocks and had continued over the years.Urging Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to convene a meeting of the finance, cooperation and civil supplies ministers, Udhayanidhi sought immediate intervention to protect consumers from further price escalation.Palaniswami said prices of essential commodities had risen by around 40% due to inflation and recalled that the previous AIADMK govt had set up a Rs 100 cr price stabilisation fund. The fund was used to procure commodities such as onion and tomato from states where prices were lower and sell them through the PDS at subsidised rates.Venkataraman said the govt would ensure adequate availability of essential commodities through PDS outlets and Pasumai Angadi stores. “We will certainly take concrete measures and find a solution in the next two to three days,” he said.
