Check vegetable hoarding: Punjab governor to officials

He also asked officials to arrange mobile vans to sell the vegetables in the city

Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh Shivraj V Patil today asked officials of the union territory to check hoarding of essential items like onion and potato and ensure that they are supplied to the people at reasonable rates.

Patil issued these directions during a meeting of senior officials of the Chandigarh administration held here, according to an official release.

He asked the officials of Food and Supply Department and state-owned Manimajra Cooperative Society to install at least four more stalls at different locations in the city to sell onions and potatoes at controlled rates. One such stall is already operational.

He also asked them to arrange mobile vans to sell the vegetables in the city.

He said three sub-divisional level committees, comprising SDM, SHOs, food supply inspector, mandi supervisor and marketing supervisor, have already been constituted to check the prices and hoarding of these items.

He also gave directions to the police to make surprise checks against the hoarding of these items.

Balbir Singh Dhol, Joint Secretary, Agriculture Marketing Board, said supply of onion is coming from Rajasthan, Nasik and Indore.

He said the supply will increase in the coming days and their prices will further reduce.

Onion prices in the retail market in Chandigarh are in the range of Rs 25 to 40 per kg, while potato is being sold at Rs 25 per kg.