Rattled by the sudden rise of prices of onion, the State Government on Wednesday directed the concerned authorities to ensure that onion is sold within Rs 17 per kg.
Earlier a week ago, while onion was selling at Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg, the prices have now skyrocketed up to Rs 25, pinching the pockets of the lower middleclass people.
But after Civil Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department officials carried out raids on a number of godowns, including Chhatra Bazaar in Cuttack, to curb hoarding by unscrupulous traders, the prices have come down. In the Unit-1 Market in Bhubaneswar, onion sold at Rs 20 to Rs 22 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Civil Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister SN Patro said onions would be sold in Maitri shops in the State capital and Cuttack at Rs 17. Raids are being carried out by officials on godowns to check stocks so that enough stocks are available for the consumers, he added.
However, traders’ association members said that due to shortage of supplies in the wake of floods in various parts of the country, they are paying Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,700 per tonne of onion. So, it is very difficult for them to sell it at Rs 17 per kg for long.