HYDERABAD, July 22: District Coordination Officer Ali Ahmed who is also controller general of prices has fixed wholesale and retail prices of daily-use essential commodities in the district and directed shopkeepers to display price lists in front of shops, according to a notification issued on Monday.

The DCO directed the dealers and merchants to exhibit price list at conspicuous places in the shops to ensure that the commodities were sold at fixed rates and avert black-marketing, hoarding or creation of artificial shortage of any item.

He warned that contravention of the order was an offence punishable with imprisonment of term, which might extend to three years and fine extendable to Rs100,000 under the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act 1997.

He said that complaint centres had been established with telephone Nos. 022-9200202, 9200976, 0300-2908593 and 1334 and advised people to lodge their complaints about unavailability and high prices of daily-use commodities, if any.

The DCO warned the shopkeepers to refrain from charging high prices on his visit different markets of Latifabad, Hyderabad City and Taluka Qasimabad to ensure that government sponsored flour outlets were open and people were being provided flour at fixed rates.

He said that the revenue magistrates backed up by police had started surprise checking and one police inspector had been especially deputed to conduct raids on hidden stocks of wheat in light of intelligence reports.

The official met with people and inquired about their problems. He advised them to lodge their complaints about charging of high prices at the complaint centres.

He said that the district government was trying its best to increase the number of government-sponsored flour outlets and stressed the need for coordination and cooperation to face the crisis of artificial shortage of flour.