In order to insulate the city residents from the seasonal crisis of major agricultural produce during the summer months, the Delhi Government is planning to buy and create a buffer stock of onion and potato in the major growing States.
The government plans to supply those to traders, or even sell those directly to the residents in Delhi as and when required, if at all the crisis emerges in the coming months, sources said. Development Minister Gopal Rai held a review meeting over the issue on Tuesday during which an in-principle consensus was arrived.
“A decision to that effect has been taken. Now the modalities have to be worked out about the logistics involved like storage, and disposal in case those are not required to be brought to the city,” an official said.
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Officials said the harvest season would arrive in two to three weeks. “Most likely the department would create the buffer from where we purchase in bulk in the producing State as it would be unnecessary to transport them here in advance as it would increase their cost. If the supply during the summer months remains normal in the Capital, they could be sold back in the mandis there ,” the official said.