Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the state assembly that the government has established a price-monitoring mechanism and no significant increase in the prices of essential commodities has been observed so far. However, he cautioned that the impact of rising fuel prices may be felt in the coming days.
Government Measures Amid West Asia Conflict
Replying to the “Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address” in the assembly on Tuesday, Sarma said, “In view of the ongoing West Asia conflict, we have taken certain austerity measures already. We will bring in more such measures in the budget, which will be presented in July.”
The chief minister emphasized that the state government recently set up a price-monitoring system. “No significant hike in prices of essential commodities has been noticed as compared to the previous prices. However, I don’t want to deny the possible impact on the prices of essential commodities after the hike in petrol and diesel prices,” he added.
Inflation Concerns Raised by MLAs
Referring to the issue of inflation raised by several MLAs in the House, Sarma acknowledged that it is a challenge that cannot be avoided. “After taking charge, the big challenge in front of me is to keep the economy of Assam and the country safe in the coming days,” he stated.
The chief minister also highlighted the impact of the Iran-America conflict on India’s foreign exchange reserves. “The Iran-America conflict has reduced India’s foreign exchange reserves gradually. India will not remain free from the impact of the conflict if it does not end. India imports fuel and fertiliser, along with many other products, at a higher cost. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned about this aspect. Certainly, we have seen the consequences, including the increase in prices of petrol and diesel,” he explained.
Foreign Exchange Reserves Decline
Sarma noted that in the last four months, India’s foreign exchange reserves have declined from 720 billion US dollars to 688 billion US dollars. “Even after that, the PM has put efforts so that the common people do not have to take the burden. I hope the increase in prices of petrol and diesel is an issue for the time being and will return to the earlier situation whenever the conflict ends,” he said, expressing optimism that India will soon overcome the situation.
