In 7 years, prices of pulses, oil & mutton nearly doubled

NEW DELHI: In the past seven years, the prices of many food items seem to have doubled in Delhi. The Economic Survey of Delhi for 2014-15 shows that pulses, oil and even mutton are now twice as costly.

Interestingly, Delhi's consumer price index during 2014 at 223 was lesser than the national average of 247, indicating that inflation in Delhi since 2001 has actually been lower than in most other cities.

The survey , however, shows that potato and onion have registered an insignificant rise in their wholesale price since 2007 onion has gone up from Rs 1,107 per quintal to Rs 1,200 per quintal while potato is up from Rs 685 per quintal to Rs 750 per quintal.

Against this, the price of pulses has risen exponentially in the wholesale market and its impact has been felt more acutely in the retail market. Arhar has gone up from Rs 3,365 per quintal to Rs 6,400 per quintal while price of moong has risen from Rs 3,784 per quintal to Rs 6,550 per quintal.



"Barring seasonal fluctuations in some commodities like onion, potato and wheat due to decline in arrivals, inclement weather in the major producing areas, transportation bottlenecks, increase in cost of movement and lower stocks the retail prices of most essential commodities have exhibited a steady trend in all metro cities in India."
It has attributed the rise in prices to low production, market inefficiencies, wastage due to inadequate storage facilities etc.

In the case of pulses, Naresh Gupta, president of the grain merchants association, says a change in the minimum supply price has been instrumental in the sharp rise in prices, but more importantly, a shortage in supply is responsible for the rise in the price of grains.

"Moong is the major crop grown in India but the rest is largely imported.The dollar exchange rate has also gone up significantly in he past 10 years. When we have been unable to meet demand, the prices will, of course, rise," he said.

Kahiq-uz-Zaman Khan, owner of Raj Eggs Mart, says hat prices of chicks, medicine, feed etc have risen quite steeply over the past few years, resulting in a rise in the price of eggs.