Chhattisgarh overdrive to check onion prices

Chhattisgarh government has swung into action to check further increase in the price of onion in the state.

"The state government issued circular to all district collectors to check hoarding and black-marketing of onion," food secretary Pradeep Pant said. The government asked the district authorities to remain vigilant," he added.

District collectors have been directed to keep a close watch on the price of essential commodities. The state government intended to keep the price of onion stable without further increase. It had asked the traders not to increase the price of onion beyond Rs 40 a kilogram.

In the state capital, the price of a kilogram of onion had reached upto Rs 60. According to the local traders, the fluctuation in the price of onion was not in their control. For, they were transporting onion from Gujarat and Maharashtra. The traders are, however, doubtful that the price of onion could be controlled at this point of time.

Since a huge quantity of stock had been damaged due to unseasonal rains, one had to wait till the next crop of onion as there was huge gap between demand and supply, a trader said.

District authorities have swung into action after the circular issued by the state government. A senior official said that the district collectors had held meetings with the traders and directed them to avoid stocking or black-marketing onion.