Onion prices to fall soon,assures CM

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit assured on Tuesday that prices of onions are likely to stabilise in a weeks time.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit assured on Tuesday that prices of onions are likely to stabilise in a weeks time. For now the government is not offering sale at a reduced price. It has placed an order through NAFED to get onions from Nashik.

Speaking to reporters after an emergency meeting,Dikshit accepted that hoarding has aggravated the situation. The Department of Food and Supplies has been directed to start raids with immediate effect.

The government maintained that the situation is under control. There has been a 13.5 per cent decrease in the wholesale price of onions in the Azadpur Mandi as compared to prices yesterday, Dikshit said. Food and Supplies minister Haroon Yusuf said harsh punishment will be given to hoarders,including the cancellation of their licence.

Modal rate as per quintal on December 20 was Rs 5,200 per quintal,against Rs 4,500 per quintal on December 21. The supply of onions during the month has also improved,with 872 tonnes on December 17 and 1,144 tonnes on December 21.

The price of low-grade onion reduced by a rupee on Tuesday as compared to Monday. We are hoping the situation will improve in 10 days time as we are expecting a new lot of onions to come from Jodhpur and Madhya Pradesh, said Brahm Yadav of the Delhi Agriculture Marketing Board.

In Delhi,onion supply from September till mid-November usually comes from Alwar and Seekar districts in Rajasthan. By then,the crop from Nashik begins to arrive and is supplied till January.

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