from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jul 28: With Ganesh Chaturthi, just a month ahead, the state government has decided to ensure that wholesale traders slash the price graph of essential commodities like cereals, pulses, vegetables and oil.

Goa which largely depends on neighbouring states like Karnataka and Goa to satisfy its demand for essential commodities feels that without help of wholesale traders, the price control, is not possible.

``We will also assess the demand of pulses for next two to three months in order to place the demand before the government of India in response to the proposal of import of pulses," Goa's civil supplies minister Anatasio Moserratte told the state legislative assembly, this afternoon.

The minister stated that Goa largely depends on vegetable, fruits, cereals, pulses, oil and other essential commodities brought from neighbouring states and sold in the Goan market.

"Vegetables and fruits grown in Goa are seasonal and not commercially sold. Cereals pulses and oil is not produced in the state. As a result whenever there is a rise in prices in neigbouring states, it affects Goans markets too," Monserratte stated.

He said that the state cooperative marketing and supply federation, Agriculture-horticulture corporation, Marketing intelligence under the registrar of cooperative societies and department of civil supplies play major role in controlling the prices.

The state government has also geared up market intelligence and concerned authorities have been put on alert to detect and curb hoarding of any essential commodities.