Vegetables get pricey as government razes shops in Khandsa market

The prices of vegetables have steeply increased in Gurgaon following the state government demolished makeshift shops in Khandsa Market, Sector 10A.

The prices of vegetables have steeply increased in Gurgaon following the state government demolished makeshift shops in Khandsa Market, Sector 10A. The prices of the vegetables have increased by Rs10 to Rs 20 in the last couple of days due to the unrest.

The prices of vegetables have increased by ₹10 to ₹20 in the last couple of days due to the unrest. (HT File)

The local authorities demolished around 300 shops in the biggest wholesale market of the city last week in a bid to renovate the area. The demolition disturbed the supply to retailers as a majority of wholesalers do not have any shops to store or sell agricultural produce.

“The prices have increased in the last two three days as the supply chain has been disturbed. We go to the market daily to get produce, but after the demolition drive, most of the sellers do not have a place to set up shops. Other shopkeepers, taking advantage on the gap, have increased their prices,” said Dharmendra Kumar, a vegetable seller in South City 1.

The prices of potatoes have increased from Rs 25/kg to Rs 35/kg in most of the upscale localities such as South City, Sushant Lok and parts of DLF.

Even the prices of onions which had come down from Rs 80 to Rs 23 has now rose by Rs 10.

The situation is expected to worsen in the coming days as the wholesalers are threatening to go on strike.

Anita Manoharan, a resident of Sector 56, said, “Vegetable prices have increased suddenly. The local supplier said the wholesale market has been destroyed. It’s us (the residents) who will have to face the brunt now.”

The residents said the government should resolve the issue with the wholesalers as the week-long strike in the first week of September had created a scarcity resulting in prices of vegetables rising by 30%.

“The prices of vegetables had just reduced but again it’s rising. We understand the problem of the wholesalers. The government should listen to their issues and resolve the matter soon,” said Bhawna Chawla, a Sushant Lok resident.