Inflation in the national capital, Mr Gupta said, is one of the highest in the country and the Delhi government has completely failed to control it. “The focus of the Delhi government is not on controlling inflation, but on misleading the public by indulging in petty politics”.
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Wholesale onion prices at present touched Rs fifty seven/kg at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, Asia’s largest edible bulb market, which might additional spike retail prices in coming days.
He also met with the local onion traders, the same day as the Indian MEP was imposed, and warned them of dire consequences in case of supply shortage, he said. 30 per kg. with effect from August 12, the release said.
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat contribute over two thirds of India’s onion production, with Maharashtra alone accounting for about 30%, according to a study of Assocham.
Bina Sharma, a retired doctor living in Lucknow’s Nirala Nagar, told IANS: “Onion prices are out to destroy our household budget once again”. The city administration also published the names of 280 fair price shops in the capital where onions will be sold at subsidised rates. Consumers pay between Rs 50 and Rs 80 for a kilo of onion. Government has dipped into resources of Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) to acquire onions.
As per the data maintained by the National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), the wholesale onion price at Lasalgaon increased to Rs 54 per kg today from Rs 52 per kg yesterday.
The retail prices have risen, taking strong cues from the Azadpur wholesale mandi, where onions are available at as high as Rs 48 per kg today.
Depending on quality, the price varies between Rs 70 and Rs 80.
“Not only has NAFED committed irregularities in procurement of onions and misused the onion PSF scheme, but the Central government has itself asked the NAFED to cancel a global tender it had planned to float for import of onions”, AAP said.
The agency had suggested that the government should stock up by buying onions at Rs 19 per kg.
Meanwhile, consumer affairs secretary has called a meeting on Monday that will be attended by the departments of agriculture and commerce to review the action taken so far to keep prices in check.
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Prices of Onions have been rising on account of a decline in total production from 189.23 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 as against 194.02 lakh tonnes in 2013-14, a decrease of 4.79 lakh tonnes.
