The continuing upward trend of onion prices in the Capital has led a worried Delhi Government to hold one more high-level meeting on Friday to review the situation. Heavy rain, floods, damaged roads, and restrictions in traffic movements due to security reasons leading up to Independence Day celebrations have all affected the arrival of onion stocks into the city.
At the meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, it was noted that arrival of stocks will improve on Friday and in the meantime the Delhi Government will facilitate the sale of onions at reasonable prices at 1,000 points across Delhi. The sale points include Safal outlets, Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board, and 600 points to be covered by mobile vans.
Further, it was noted that the arrival earlier this week on August 13 and 14 was higher than previous dates and Delhi will soon be able to meet its demand. Wholesale rates in Delhi ranged between Rs. 30 and Rs. 50 per kg depending upon the quality. It was noted that wholesale prices of onion in Delhi was much less than many cities such as Karnal, Shimla, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Bangalore.
Ms. Dikshit further instructed all the departments concerned to keep a close eye on the prices and the availability of essential commodities, including onions, pulses, sugar, tomatoes and potatoes. She said the Government will not leave the citizens at the whims of the hoarders and black marketers.
The meeting was attended by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf, Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Chairman Dr. Bijender Singh, Chief Secretary D.M. Spolia, Commissioner Food and Civil Supplies Department S.S. Yadav, Agriculture Secretary Ramesh Tiwari and DAMB Chairman Rajinder Sharma.
