With the State in the thick of the festive season, especially Navratri, the prices of fruits keep shooting up to the roof, forcing the middle class people to slash the quantity of fruits required for such occasions and substitute fruits with potato, sweet potato, pumpkin and the like. There lower income people are left with one option-to stare at apples, pomegranate and pears from afar.
The people say that the fast soaring prices of the fruits are affecting Navratri festivities with ‘Falahaar’ (fruit-based diet) platter losing its attraction of having variety of exotic and healthy fruits. The fruits which were earlier bought by a kilo are now being sold in much lesser quantities.
The good quality apples are being sold at `150-200 per kg while bananas at `50-60 per dozen, coconut `40-50 per piece, pears `100-150 per kg, guava `50-60 per kg, oranges 80-90 per kg and pomegranate `150-200 per kg in shops across Garhwal.
The people apprehend that the prices would further surge as the season of wedding is approaching. “Fruits are indispensable for making decorative gift baskets. Fruits are used as part of the decoration too,” said Amit, a resident of New Tehri. Another said the traditional fruit basket has turned costlier by `200 to `300, depending on the rate of basket as well.
The fruit sellers say they are being forced to sell them at higher rates as the rates at which they buy them have gone up. “We are aware of the problem the common people are facing due to the spiraling prices of fruits during the period of festivities. But we are helpless,” said Raj, a fruit seller from New Tehri.