Delhi govt to ferry onion vans to 70 constituencies

In order to control onion prices, Delhi government will send vans carrying the kitchen staple from four wholesale markets to all 70 Assembly constituencies tomorrow.
According to the government, 34 mobile vans will sell onion at model rates, which will be decided by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC).
Development Minister Gopal Rai said that 16 vans from Ghazipur, 10 from Okhla and 10 from Keshavpur fruit and vegetable markets will be flagged off by senior department officials.
As per the government's understanding with the Potato and Onion Merchant Association (POMA), these vans will sell onions at model rates, which will be decided by the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC).

"Delhi government is bearing the cost of the van and manpower to help wholesale traders sell their stock in open market at mandi rates, so that there is no shortage of onions in the open market and this will also help in continuing the downward trend in onion prices," a senior government official said.
The official said that there is no shortage of onions in the wholesale markets of Delhi and the decision to send vans to all 70 Assembly constituencies will remove fear from the minds of public about shortage of onions.
"This new scheme is in addition to the Delhi government's ongoing programme of providing onions at a subsidised price of Rs 30/kg at 280 Fair Price Shops (FPS) and through mobile vans. The government will review its decision of providing vans to wholesale traders after 15 days," the official said.