Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Imran Hussain on Wednesday reviewed the issue of rising retail price of onion in Delhi with Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies and other senior officers of Food and Civil Supplies Department on Wednesday.

 During review meeting, the Minister was informed that a meeting in this regard was also convened by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution System on November 29 where the Delhi Government requested Central Government to provide financial assistance under Price Stabilization Fund so that the Delhi Government could consider providing onion at affordable prices to the citizens through Public Distribution System (PDS) Outlets, in addition to onion being provided through SAFAl Outlets.

 Commissioner (Food & Civil Supplies) also informed the Minister that 4 enforcement teams of the department are making daily inspections of major mandis for taking effective action against hoarding activities. However, the teams have not reported any single instance of hoarding till date.

"It was opined that considering the high renting costs of storage space in Delhi, possibilities of hoarding activities in Delhi are very less, however, hoarding activities could be occurring in the neighbouring States for which the Central Government should convene a meeting with neighbouring States for increasing enforcement activities against the hoarding. The Minister directed the Department to apprise Government of India on this issue suitably.

The Department further said the rise in prices of onion is due to less arrivals of onion from Nashik, Maharashtra.

Hussain also directed to convene a meeting with officers of Development Department, Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board and Food and Civil Supplies Department on Thursday to ascertain the trends of wholesale prices and also quantum of arrivals in local mandis of Delhi. Hussain also desired to know the trend of wholesale and retail prices of onion in the neighbouring States.

Hussain, meanwhile, reiterated his earlier directions to the Department to intensify inspections in the mandis and keep close watch  in the early hours of morning for taking necessary action against the unscrupulous dealers, if found involved in hoarding/black marketing activities etc.

The Minister also stated that in case the need arises, the Govt. could consider putting stock limits on storage of onion by whole-salers, retailers etc.