Delhi govt likely to open outlets for sale of onion at wholesale price

Concerned over sudden increase in onion prices, Delhi government on Tuesday said it was considering opening of special outlets to sell the vegetable at wholesale rates.

Concerned over sudden increase in onion prices, Delhi government on Tuesday said it was considering opening of special outlets to sell the vegetable at wholesale rates.

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Food and Civil Supplies Secretary Jayashree Raghuraman held a meeting with top officials of the department and asked them to get in touch with traders in Maharashtra from where the city gets most of the onion supply.

The onion prices, which were already selling at Rs 35-40 a kg, rose astronomically since yesterday when it went up to Rs 60-70 a kg in retail outlets in Delhi and surrounding areas.

"We are considering various options to bring down the prices," said a top official who attended the meeting.

He said government was also considering opening special outlets to sell onion at wholesale rates in the city.

The wholesale price of onion has soared to Rs 30-60 a kg in Azadpur market fruit and vegetables market since yesterday.

Traders attributed the rise in rates to supply crunch due to unseasonal rains in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Southern states.