Bhubaneswar: There seems to be no let-up in the skyrocketing price of onions in the state as the kitchen essential has touched Rs 45 per kg in the Capital city and some other places Friday.
Contrary to the assurance given by the state government in the beginning of October that the market price of onion would come down in a week or two, its price has almost trebled compared to the corresponding period last year.
The bulb, which comes under the list of essential commodities, is being sold at around Rs 40-Rs 45 a kilogram in various parts of the state. It used to be sold in the retail market at around Rs 15 per kilo during November last year.
Poor production and inadequate supply are said to be the main reasons behind the rise in onion prices in the state. However, Orissa Byabasayi Mahasangh secretary Sudhakar Panda said though the supply to the state has remained normal, increase in the price of onion at the source markets, especially in mandis at Nasik, has resulted in the increase in market prices.
He feigned ignorance about onions being sold at Rs 45 at some markets in Bhubaneswar and said that going by the present wholesale rates it should be sold below Rs 40 per kilo.
Panda, who had earlier blamed lack of a monitoring mechanism in the state to check unnecessary price hike in the retail market, added this time that Orissa also doesn’t have much storage facility for onions.
He, however, said that the price of the onion is likely to come down in the next 15 days after arrival of the newly harvested produce.
Meanwhile, the onion price has remained firm in the state market for the last four months, exposing how miserably the state government has failed to regulate the market price of the kitchen essential.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro said that the onion price will come down within a fortnight.
Sudarsan Maharana, OP
