Admn must contain situation of ‘panic buy’: CTF

CTF members at a meeting in Jammu on Monday.
CTF members at a meeting in Jammu on Monday.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 16: While welcoming the precautionary measures taken by UT administration to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, Chamber of Traders Federation today demanded that more information be provided to small and petty traders as well as the implementation agencies so that supplies of essential items are not hampered by panic buy or forced closures of shops.
Neeraj Anand, president, CTF in a meeting held here today urged the administration to form area wise coordination committees so that factual information is shared and City responds in a prepared way to any emergency that arises.
Anand also assured the administration that traders would ensure supplies of essential items like milk, karyana, fruit and vegetables etc. He said in this regard, we had a meeting earlier in the day today wherein stakeholders were taken on board and sanitized about the do’s and don’ts.
“ We also urge the concerned officers to issue a whatsapp/helpline number for public to gain correct information and also to note complaint of high handedness or beyond mandated implementation of closure orders,” Anand said.
CTF also urged public to act reasonable and trust the authorities by not responding to rumours or indulge in panic buying of essentials. We all should strengthen the hands of administration and fight this situation as one, Neeraj added.
Federation also requested the Tax authorities to under the gravity of situation and act accordingly while dealing with the business community. “We need not emphasize that for Jammu and Kashmir it has been a double whammy as the State is still in transformation stage and post precautionary measures taken to contain law and order situation, this health emergency has again made the business environment susceptible to collapse.
CTF demanded that once the health emergency situation eased out, government should take necessary steps to put business back on track.