Food prices in the national Capital have registered declining trend. And decreased prices of daily essentials especially pulses, rice and wheat flour, have provided huge relief to the consumers, particularly housewives. With arrival of fresh stock, prices of rice are expected to come down further.
Some traders at Khari Baoli, who did not wish to be named, said the significant reduction in black marketing following the Government’s decision to withdraw old higher denomination currency notes has a substantial impact on food prices.
For the consumer, the biggest relief is in the price of pulses, which has been dropped by 30 per cent in the wholesale market of Khari Baoli in Central Delhi. The prices have come down after four weeks, said a trader. The price of chickpea (chana dal) has been reduced by 20 per cent, pigeon pea (lentils) by 30per cent, green gram (moong dal) by 20 per cent, he added.
Bringing big relief to the consumers, the prices in retail markets have also eased up significantly. Chickpea which earlier was sold at Rs140 per kg is now comign for Rs110 a kg. Pigeon pea is being sold at Rs100 a kg as compared to Rs120 a month ago. Green gram price has reduced to Rs60 per kg as earlier it was sold for Rs 75. Wheat flour and rice prices are also coming down up to Rs 5 per kg.
“Prices of all farm commodities are generally fall noticeably by December, when the new harvest reaches the market, said a trader.
A survey of markets across North Delhi has revealed that prices of daily commodities have come down significantly in comparison to previous months. While there were differences in prices at retail grocery shops and supermarkets, retail shops were found selling these products on old rates, citing that they have not finished with the old stock.
Radheshyam Gupta, a local retail shop owner at Nehru Vihar, said, “Any crop first arrives in wholesale mandi thereafter it reaches local markets. We are still selling old stock and at old prices and have yet to receive the new crop”.
“We are selling rice ranging from Rs30 to Rs150 per kg till last week. Due to reduced prices in wholesale market we also reduced prices from Rs4 a kg to Rs10, per kg. As soon the new harvest starts flooding the market, the prices may be down further,” said manager of Mega Mart at Mukharjee nagar.
Rajeev Arora of Rajdhani trading company, Khari Baoli said with new arrival of crops prices tend to go down. Prices have not come down for the first time”.
“Rice prices are depended on production. Good harvest of rice has resulted in reduced prices. It has nothing to do with demonetisation,” said Mohit Sridhar, owner of Devshree grains and pulses, Khari Baoli.
While big retail chain such as Mega Mart, Big Apple and Fair price are also selling pulses at reduced prices. “We are just an employee and selling products as directed. But yes prices have come down. Prices of pulses and rice have come down from what it was previous month,” said the manager, Fair Price at Outram lane.
Residents were pleased to get some respite. “I have cut down expenses to manage the budget but at least now I can shop some more in the same budget,” said Pooja Bansal, while shopping at Fair Price shop at GTB Nagar.
Saurav Sapra, a law student at Delhi University, said it is a huge relief for us as being a student we always want to buy essential goods at cheaper price.