Some People Creating Illusion of Price Rise, Says Minister Venkataramanan

Chennai: Food minister P. Venkataramanan on Sunday denied that the prices of essential commodities had increased. He said only an impression of rising prices is being created. The prices would go up depending on the seasons or festival time and they depend on the demand and supply, he said, assuring that the government would swing into action if the prices of essential commodities rise.

Addressing the media, the minister said he is seeing many reports of scarcity of essential commodities and price rise, but this is only a lie which was spread for the by-poll campaign. The minister said his department is analysing the prices of essential commodities in each district every day.

“Even yesterday, there were reports that the prices of rice and sugar had increased. But the prices remain normal. The prices of some commodities go up depending on the season and come down after some time”. Venkataramanan said. He said the prices increase during the festival season, and the prices depend on the demand and supply.

The production of food commodities would be less in Tamil Nadu from Sept. to Dec. and the cultivation would increase from Jan. to Aug. Some of the rice items like Karnataka Ponni and Telangana Ponni would arrive soon and the production in Tamil Nadu would increase after the samba harvest, the minister said.

Venkataramanan said there is a possibility of water scarcity due to the El Nino conditions and people are coming up with several demands. At present there is no scarcity of food items and the State government has stored quantities of commodities including rice. The State government is monitoring the situation continuously and would swing into action if there is a rise in the prices of essential commodities.