Onion Prices: Over Rs 100 Per Kg in Delhi, Rs 80 Per Kg in MP

Following a
steady rise, onion prices finally crossed the psychological mark of Rs 100 a kg
in Delhi on Wednesday, 6 November, sources reported

In Madhya
Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, prices are in the range of Rs 70 to 80 per kg,
despite stock limits imposed by the government on traders.

The centre,
responding to public concern, has decided to rely on imports to tackle the
issue. The Ministry of Agriculture, on Wednesday, allowed relaxation from the
condition of fumigation and endorsement on PSC as per the Plant Quarantine
Order, 2003 for onion imports up to 30 November.

Delhi Food
and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain reportedly held a meeting with his
department officers to review the issue of sudden and unexplained rise in onion
prices and directed agencies to ensure timely, regular and adequate supply of
onion through mobile vans.

Supriya
Shrinate, Congress spokesperson said, “We urge the government to find a permanent
solution instead of a quick fix.”

About the
government’s plans to import onion, the spokesperson said, “In principle,
I think the government has had to resort to this because they have not been
able to pick the real issue which has been set aside and not a supply restrictions.”

“My
basic dispute was that the price of onion has crossed Rs 100 per Kg not because
of supply constraint, not because of erratic monsoon, but, because of hoarding
and the government has to crackdown on that,” she added.