Paswan directs quick action to bring down onion prices

Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday directed officers to take quick action to bring prices under control, an official release said.

Paswan issued the direction at a high-level meeting with senior officers of the departments of consumer affairs and agriculture to review the availability and prices of onions, the consumer affairs, food and public distribution ministry said in a statement.

The minister also wrote a letter to the state chief ministers on Monday asking them to enforce stock limit on onions and strengthen anti-holding drive to ensure its availability.

Later in a meeting with the officials, Consumer Affairs Secretary C. Viswanath said a meeting on onions may be called for August 27, after opening of tenders, so that quick decision on imports can be taken.

He also said after the tenders are finalized, onions could be brought by September 10.

It was also decided that joint surveillance teams of consumer affairs and agriculture departments will inspect the centres where onions are being distributed in Delhi to check on the quality, quantity and price, the release added.

The modalities of the import of tur dal and urad dal were also discussed.

It was also decided that review meetings will be held twice a week to take stock of the situation.