AMN
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan yesterday reviewed the prices and availability of onions across the country.
He held a review meeting with Secretary, Consumer Affairs and Secretary, Food and other senior officials in New Delhi today, during which several steps taken by the Government to curb price rise along with reasons for the increase in prices were discussed.
An official release said it was informed that due to delay in the onset of monsoon, sowing was delayed, which had a cascading effect on the arrival of onions in mandis. Also, untimely rains and two cyclones had an impact on the overall production and also hindered the transportation of onions especially from Maharashtra.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Ram Vilas Paswan said the Government is taking all possible steps to curb price rise, including creating a buffer stock of 56,700 tonnes of onions out of which 1525 tonnes are available with NAFED at present. The other steps include banning export of onions to retain stock for domestic consumption and putting stock holding limit of 10 Metric Tonnes for retailers and 50 Metric Tonnes for wholesalers to ensure a constant and healthy supply in the market.
Enumerating the reasons for spurt in prices, Mr Paswan said all steps were taken but there is a 30 to 40 per cent reduction in production of onions and the supply has been disrupted due to rains. The arrival in Delhi Mandi is up to 25 per cent lesser than those in the same months of previ