Onion sale begins in fair price shops

BERHAMPUR: After lifting of ban due to the imposition of the model code of conduct for urban polls in Odisha, the Ganjam district authorities today resumed sale of onions in fair price shops (FPS) at Rs 40 per kg in Berhampur town.

The opion is now available at 14 fair price shops and one can purchase up to 2 kg of onion at a time, official sources said.

Though the administration had made such facility earlier, the shops were closed due to the urban polls. "We hope the buyers prefer the onion from the ration shops this time as the difference of price from market to ration shop is around Rs 10 per kg," said assistant civil supply officer, Berhampur Purushottam Lenka.

Sub Collector, Berhampur BK Das reviewed the price of onion at a meeting with the officials and traders. He appealed officials to make convenient to supply the onion at the affordable price in the ration shops. "Some more ration shops in the town are likely to be asked to sale the onions in the coming days" sub collector said.

District administration has taken decision to sell the onion at fair price in the FPS when the prices have soared to around Rs 50 to Rs 55 per kg in the retail market in the town, depending on their quality. The price rise of the onion was due to lower supply from the producing regions, the traders said.