Despite diktat, prices of masks, sanitisers higher in market
| Date :24-Mar-2020 |
A medical store at 7 Number Bus Stop.
By Divyansh Thakur :
Despite Government predetermining the price of masks and sanitisers on account of coronavirus outbreak, these essential commodities are being sold at much higher price in Bhopal. The medical store owners say there is shortage in supply of face masks and hand sanitisers in the State capital. The Government on March 20 announced that the prices of the masks and sanitisers will be fixed. Masks are will be sold at Rs 8 and not more than Rs 10, whereas 200ml of sanitiser will be sold at Rs 100.
‘The Hitavada’ visited many medical stores of different areas, to conduct a reality check whether masks are being sold at the price fixed by the government. It was found that the masks were being sold at Rs 40 to Rs 50 and that the sanitiser bottles were being sold at Rs 100 for 50ml against the government instructions to not do so. Owner of Mahamaya Medical Store told ‘The Hitavada’ that although the Government has fixed the rates of 2ply and 3ply masks but they were not available at the moment. Owner of another medical store in MP Nagar said the retailers are helpless as they are yet to receive the supply of 2ply and 3ply masks, and alcohol based sanitisers.
Notably, the Schedule of the Essential Commodities Act-1995 was amended keeping in view that surgical masks and hand sanitisers are available at great difficulty and at exuberant prices. This decision was taken to empower the states to regulate production, quality and distribution of masks and hand sanitisers. It seems that the State Government has failed to do so and only the poor are left to suffer as they cannot afford the costly masks and hand sanitisers. When the matter was raised before District Collector Tarun Pithode he said that Food and Drugs Administration is taking continuous action against such offenders and that penalty would be imposed as this drive would continue in Bhopal.