Expressing concern over rising price of onion in the Capital, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said that since Delhi is not an onion-producing State; the Government has no control over its prices. However, she said that the price of the staple is expected to come down in a couple of days.
The Chief Minister also declared that the Government will set up enforcement teams to keep a check on hoarders and she would meet Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Union Food & Civil Supplies Minister KV Thomas on Thursday to discuss the situation. "I will urge them to stop exporting onion to tame price-rise. The issue will also be taken up with the NAFED. The arrival of onion from Rajasthan has begun from Saturday and the quantum of arrival is picking up by the day. It is expected that the prices would start going down within two to three days," she said.
Dikshit said that it is a fact that price of onion throughout the country is unprecedented and abnormally high.
"Onion is being sold at an average of `83 per kg in different States. Heavy rain has affected the cost of transportation. Delhi has no bulk storage capacity of the staple, however, inspections are being carried out at the places of wholesale traders in order to overcome any possibility of hoarding," Dikshit said while addressing a Press conference at her residence on Wednesday. Delhi Food and Supply Minister Haroon Yusuf and Rajendra Sharma, who is the Chairman of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) in Azadpur Mandi, were also present.
"Due to fluctuation in quantum of arrival, there has been fluctuation in prices, however, onion is presently available at Mother Dairy Safal Booths between `55 to `65 per kg," Dikshit said.
She appealed to the wholesale traders of Delhi to render their cooperation in bringing normalcy about onion prices. She added that the traders had stated that 55 vans have been deployed at various colonies to facilitate sale of onion at reasonable price. The number of vans would be increased in the next few days.