The Odisha government has stepped up efforts to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities in flood-affected districts while keeping a close watch on rising prices. A high-level review meeting was held on Tuesday to assess the availability of food items, distribution under welfare schemes and measures to prevent price escalation in affected areas.

The meeting was chaired by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh at the department’s conference hall, following the directions of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra. Senior departmental officials, including Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director K. Sudarshan Chakraborty, participated in the meeting, while District Supply Officers from across the state joined through video conferencing.

During the review, officials discussed measures to maintain the supply chain of essential commodities in flood-hit regions and ensure that consumers have easy access to daily necessities. The Principal Secretary directed District Supply Officers to remain vigilant against any artificial shortage or unreasonable increase in prices.

Officials were instructed to take immediate action on complaints related to hoarding, black marketing or overpricing. The department also asked district authorities to intensify market inspections and enforcement drives wherever required to prevent traders from exploiting the flood situation.

The meeting also reviewed the lifting and distribution of food grains under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS). Officials assessed the distribution of pending rice allocations for April, May and June under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, along with the July and August allocations under both the central and state food security schemes.

In addition, the review covered the lifting and distribution of kerosene quotas for July, August and September. District Supply Officers have been directed to ensure that all pending rice and kerosene allocations are lifted and distributed to eligible beneficiaries by August 15.

The state government reiterated that ensuring the uninterrupted availability of essential commodities and protecting consumers from price hikes remain top priorities as flood-affected districts continue to recover from the recent disaster.