With the State being placed under a complete lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19, price of potato, onion witnessed a sharp surge across Bokaro and Dhanbad district.
Meanwhile taking advantage of the lockdown and the subsequent panic over stocks running out, vendors across both districts have increased the prices of vegetables too.
Potato that was priced at Rs 18-20 a kilo a week ago in the retail market here is now being sold at Rs 40 a kg while the price of onion witnessed a sharp surge touches a high of Rs 55 here on Monday.
Consequently, vegetable prices increased fourfold in several markets in the twin cities. The bottle gourd is being sold between the ranges of 25 to 30 rupees per kgs, earlier it was selling at 16 rupees per kgs. “Similarly carrot is being sold at Rs 40 per kgs, ginger Rs 200, jackfruit Rs 70 per kgs, cauliflower between Rs 50 to 60 per kgs."Feared over lockdown, that may extend further denizens flocked to markets to hoard essentials, said Alok a customer at sector 4 market.
"As there is a surge in buyers, the vendors have increased the prices from 200 to 300 per cent. The vegetables, namely bottle gourd, cabbage, beans, capsicum, potato, and carrots, were sold at normal prices on Saturday. But now the prices were increased by the vendors themselves,” added Alok.
Earlier, for Rs 100, I bought at least 2 to 3 kg of different vegetables. Now, I cannot even buy half of it with the same money, said Vinod Kumar another buyer.
“The administration should take measures to control the overpricing.” Since there is a huge gap between demand and supply due to lockdown, the retail price is bound to increase, said Manoj a trader at Bokaro. The State Government has warned traders against hoarding. The officials have been asked to keep a close watch on hoarders and black marketers.
Taking stiff action Sub-Divisional-Officer Dhanbad Raj Maheswaram and SDO Chas and Bermo warned traders against black marketing. SDO Dhanbad conducted raids in the vegetable market at police line, Bartand, Hirapur, Steel Gate in a bid to check on onion and potato price.
SDO instructed the shopkeepers to sell potatoes and onion at the rate of Rs 20 per kg. "Traders were also instructed to put rates board in front of the shop," said SDO.
“Do not create an artificial scarcity of good to sell them at higher prices,” SDO told to the vendors.“We will register criminal cases against those who sell essentials at higher prices,” he added