In view of the soaring prices of essential vegetables, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday instructed officials to supply vegetables using mobile units in urban areas through urban local bodies and the Horticulture Department just as it was done during the COVID-19 lockdown earlier.
During a meeting with Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Chief Secretary Shiva Das Meena and senior officials in the Secretariat, Mr. Stalin also instructed them to expand the sale of tomatoes in 300 ration shops.
He instructed the officials to ensure that tomatoes, shallots and other vegetables are sold as per the demand in uzhavar sandhais (farmers market) across the State. He also advised them to take legal action under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, against those who hoarded certain groceries.
As a measure to control the rising prices of tur and urad dal in the open market, the Mr. Stalin directed the officials to ensure they were sold at a lower price through cooperative societies, an official release said.
