look news india
Onion Price Hike: Onion prices are bringing tears in the eyes of consumers during the festive season. In such a situation, the Central Government has taken a big decision to control the high prices of onion. To provide relief to the people of Delhi-NCR from expensive onions, the government has procured onions from Nashik in Maharashtra through NCCF, which will be transported to Delhi NCR during the festive season. The government believes that this step will help in increasing the availability of onion during the festive season and will also provide relief on the price front.
The Ministry of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs has announced that 1600 MT of onion will be brought from Nashik to Delhi by rail rack in 42 BCN wagons which is equivalent to 53 trucks. These onions are likely to reach Delhi by 20 October 2024. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, said the use of rail in transportation of onions is an important step and more destinations will also be used for quick disposal of onions. Onions will also be supplied to Lucknow and Varanasi through rail racks.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has sought permission from the Railway Ministry to send onions from Nashik to the North Eastern region including New Jalpaipuri, Dibrugarh, New Tinsukia and Changsari. This will help in increasing the availability of onion at reasonable prices in every corner of the country.
The government has procured 4.7 lakh tonnes of onion through the Price Stabilization Fund, which is being sold in the retail market through wholesale at Rs 35 per kg in various markets of the country from September 5, 2024. The government said that so far 92,000 tonnes of onion has been transported from Nashik and other source centres.
So far, NCCF has delivered onions to 77 locations in 21 states and NAFED to 43 locations in 16 states. These agencies have also partnered with Safal, Kendriya Bhandar and Reliance Retail to sell onions at Rs 35 per kg to retail consumers.
The government said onion prices have declined in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Jharkhand and Telangana compared to the first week of September. The price of onion in Lasalgaon market has decreased from Rs 47 per kg on 24 September 2024 to Rs 40 per kg on 15 October. In the case of tomato, the Consumer Affairs Secretary said that due to rains, tomato production has been affected in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, but in the coming time, due to increase in arrivals from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the prices will fall.
