Delhi government to ask big onion traders to import in large quanity

NEW DELHI: With onion prices touching Rs 80 a kg, Delhi government today said that it will ask big traders of onions to import the kitchen staple in large quantity so that their price could be stabilised in the national capital.

Development Minister Gopal Rai and Food and Supplies Minister Asim Ahmed Khan held a review meeting with the traders of Azadpur vegetable market to discuss the situation.

Slamming the Centre, Rai said that they are busy in playing "a blamegame of letter" and are putting a blame on the Delhi government for price rise of onion.

"There are several big traders of onions who import the kitchen staple from other countries. Government has decided to approach them and request them to buy onions in large quantity so that their price could be brought down in the market," Rai told reporters here.

The Development Minister said that in the review meeting, "traders told us that the price of onion has gone down by Rs 3 to Rs 5 in markets in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and we will get to see the impact in next three-four days in the city's markets.

"There is no shortage of stock of onion in Azadpur market. We hope that the price of onions will go down drastically in wholesale markets in Delhi," he said.

Rai alleged "they (Centre) want to blame Delhi government for rising of price of onion but they have been exposed now."

"The Centre is not able to supply onions but Delhi government has already kept a stock of onion," he added.

According to the minister, Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) has called a meeting with members of Potato and Onion Merchants Association (POMA) tomorrow over the issue.

"Government has sought the help of Azadpur vegetable traders to sell onion through mobile vans in the national capital at "no-profit-and-no-loss" price, he added.

Meanwhile, Asim Ahmed Khan flagged off around 13 mobile vans which will sell onions at Rs 30 per Kg in different parts of the capital.