The panic-buying was beginning to affect stocks of the main dealers of salt in the city, with one major salt-miller shutting shop temporarily and the another saying his stocks were about to be exhausted.

There was little impact, however, of the officials' primary occupation, as the markets continued to be as confused as they have been for the past three days over the implication of the regulation. Despite official directives, no trader made public his stocks or the prices he was selling them at.

Claiming that the officials' work would pay off within a day or two, State Director, Food and Civil Supplies, R M Joshi told Express Newsline from Gandhinagar that the inclusion of these commodities in the essential list would force prices and supplies to become normal soon. He attributed the delay to the novelty of the concept and the traders' unfamiliarity with the rules.

In Vadodara, meanwhile, a major salt-miller shut shop temporarily, while another warned that his stock was about to be exhausted. As rumours gained ground, middle-class consumers, too, could be seen queuing up to buy salt. A cross-section of retailers in Raopura, Karelibaug, Hathikhana, Mandvi and Sayajigunj said they had sold abnormally high quantities of packed salt sold for Rs 6/kg.

Food and Civil Supplies Corporation deputy manager K S Prasad admitted ``heavy purchase'' at the corporation-run showroom `Kalpataru', but added that he had surplus stocks.

Reports of a hike in salt prices, however, could not be confirmed.

Meanwhile, District Supplies Officer Ashok Singh said he had inspected godowns, mills and retail outlets to ensure there was no panic or unreasonable buying in the city. According to him, there was a stock of 75,000 kg of potatoes, 400 bags of onions and surplus salt everywhere in the district.

Another senior official, who did not want to be named, said senior officials at Saurashtra and Gandhinagar were being contacted to ensure smooth supply of the above-mentioned items.

However, their prices continued to climb upwards in most of the city markets. Singh said that he would cross-check the records of the farmers and godowns and ensure smooth supply of vegetables.