Continued panic buying coupled with spiralling vegetable and essential food items has prompted the administration to open suvidha kendras in city areas.

Dhalbhum SDO Chandan Kumar confirmed of panic buying and rumours of vehicles carrying food items not being able to reach city has led to rise in prices of several commodities since the lockdown was enforced on Monday.

“People are resorting to panic buying of vegetables and essential commodities, which is leading to hoarding and traders are escalating the prices. Rumours are being spread by unscrupulous elements that vehicles carrying edible items and vegetables are being seized in neighbouring states of Odisha and Bengal, which led to rise in prices. We had a meeting with foodgrains wholesalers and also vegetable wholesalers and directed against sharp rise in prices. We will open suvidha centres at different locations from Wednesday to sell foodgrains and vegetables at subsidised rates,” said Chandan Kumar.

The administration official said the suvidha centres to be opened at Sakchi, Bistupur, Jugsalai, Mango, Golmuri, Telco, Sonari, Kadma and Krishi Utpadhan Bazar in Parsudih will sell goods at fixed prices and amounts.

“We will fix the rates and also the maximum amount, which could be purchased by a customer from these centres to avoid panic

buying. We would like to assure people that there is no shortage of foodgrains and vegetables,” said Chandan Kumar.

Surprise inspection was carried out by the SDO and Krishi Utpadhan Bazaar Samity secretary Sanjay Kachyap at agriculture market yard in Parsudih to sense any hoarding of potatoes, onion and foodgrains.

“We could not find any hoarding. However, we have constituted an enforcement team for various areas in Jamshedpur, Mango, Jugsalai and also in different blocks under block development officers to keep a tab on hoarding and conduct surprise inspection,” added SDO.

As on Tuesday prices of potato rose from Rs 20/kg to Rs 40/kg, onion from Rs 28-30/kg to Rs 40-45/kg, brinjal Rs 10-15/kg to Rs 30-40/kg and tomato prices touched Rs 25-30 from Rs 16-20.