Kolkata, Nov 15 (IANS) With widespread rumours about scarcity of salt, its prices sky-rocketed to over Rs.100 per kg in many parts of northern West Bengal. The state government though rubbished the rumours, claiming large stocks of salt were available.
People in Siliguri, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri since Thursday night rushed to markets to buy common salt, while traders sold it at Rs.100-150 a kg.
North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb rubbished the reports of scarcity of salt and said a government notification has been issued in this regard.
“Some quarters are deliberately spreading this rumours which has lead to the rise in the price of salt astronomically. But we want to assure everybody that there are large stocks of salt available in the state,” Deb said.
Deb also said the administration has been asked to take strict action against those spreading the rumours.
State Agricultural Marketing Minister Arup Roy also assured there was no scarcity of salt.