Bhopal. Onion is being sold in the retail market at the rate of ₹ 80 per kg, due to which the condition of the common man has deteriorated and the taste has also deteriorated.
After which NCCF is selling onions at the rate of ₹ 25 per kg, which people are ready to buy and people have come with full preparation to buy onions with bags in their hands. Our correspondent Deepak Dwivedi reached the spot and took stock.
Onion price up to Rs 80 per kg in retail market
Onion is bringing tears to the eyes of common people in Bhopal. The rates in the retail market have reached Rs 80 per kg. Prices have doubled in a week. To provide relief from this inflation, the National Co-operative Consumer Federation of India (NCCF) is now selling onions in trucks at Rs 25 per kg.
Everyone from children to the elderly were seen standing in line.
Onions were sold in many areas of Bhopal on Tuesday. As soon as the truck filled with 18 quintals of onions reached Ashoka Garden intersection at 5 pm, a crowd of people gathered to buy cheap onions. From women, children to the elderly, people were standing in the queue.
Entire truck emptied in less than 2 hours
2 kg onion per person was being given at the rate of Rs 25 per kg. As soon as the news of availability of cheap onions was received, people from nearby areas also arrived and stood in line. The entire truck was emptied in less than 2 hours.
Onions are being sold at these places
NCCF has set up stalls for cheap onions at places like Board Office Square, near Satpura Bhawan, Barkheda Basti etc. Onions are being transported here in trucks. However, its timing is not fixed. Cheap onions are being taken for sale anytime from morning to evening.
I was getting cheap onions, so I came here.
Resident Irfan Shaikh told that onion was available at Rs 80 per kg from the market. I came to know about cheap onions being sold here. I have bought 2 kg onion at the rate of Rs 25. I have made a profit of Rs 110.
Shivam Verma told that I had also come to Ashoka Garden to buy onions. Seen here, there is a crowd around the truck. On enquiry, it was found that onion was available at Rs 25 per kg. Immediately stood in line and bought onions.
Steps taken to provide relief from inflation
NCCF Field Officer Mohammad Rashid said that Bhopal is giving onions at the rate of Rs 25 per kg to the common people to provide relief from inflation. The government and NCCF are working to control inflation. Trucks are being taken to 8 to 10 locations in Bhopal. Until the market rates reduce, cheap onions will be made available to the people.
55 in bulk, 80 rupees per kg in retail
The wholesale price of onion in Bhopal’s Karond vegetable market is Rs 55, while it is available in retail at Rs 70 to 80 per kg. Mohammad Naseem, President of Karond Mandi Vegetable Traders Association, said that currently onions are not arriving from other states including Maharashtra. Golden variety of onion is coming from nearby districts including Shajapur, Shujalpur.
The rates in the markets are like this
Good quality onion is being sold in bulk at Rs 55 per kg, medium size onion at Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg and small variety onion at Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg. Its rates in the retail vegetable markets of the city are higher by Rs 10 to Rs 20. The price will come down only after the arrival of new onions.
