The Hindu : New Delhi News : Apple goes sour as prices soar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Apple goes sour as prices soar

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 10. The flash flood alert along the Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh is already having its impact in Delhi. Not only has the power supply from the hill State gone down substantially, but arrival of fruits and vegetables in the city markets has also been badly affected, resulting in a steady increase in the prices of these products, especially apple and peach.

While the shutdown of the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Project has affected power supply to the Capital and the Northern Grid, it is feared that any further increase in the water level could have an adverse impact on power production in other hydro projects of the State which supply nearly 400 MW of power to Delhi every day.

It has been four days since the Nathpa Jhakri project was closed down for fear of inundation by the rising waters of the Sutlej. The initial closure affected the Capital's power supply with frequency tripping and load-shedding registering an increase. However, due to the monsoon and a drop in demand, the impact was not much.

On the other hand, the fear of flash floods in the apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh is already having an impact on the prices of fruit. The continuous rain followed by landslides and now the fear of floods is forcing the farmers in Shimla and Kinnaur districts to stop plucking of apples.

This is the peak season for apples and peaches from Himachal Pradesh. With evacuation taking place and people not willing to take risks till the water recedes, the prices are bound to rise in the coming days.

At the same time, transporters are also reluctant to deploy their trucks in the `danger zone'. The authorities have already issued warnings that people should avoid these areas in view of the flood threat.

Interestingly, when the threat of drought was hovering over the hill State, the farmers had plucked their crop resulting in a glut in Delhi and adjoining markets. However, the situation has changed over the past four days resulting in short supply and subsequent increase in price of apple and other products. According to Ghirdari Lal, general secretary, Shimla Apple Merchants Association, the drop in supply has certainly had its impact on prices. For instance, the price of 22 kg box of Shimla apple that was selling between Rs. 250 to Rs. 500 last week has shot up to between Rs. 300 and Rs. 700.

Similarly, peach from Kashmir that was selling for Rs. 200 for a 12 kg box, is now selling at Rs. 350 per 12 kg box. As for the Kullu variety of apple, the 12 kg box was selling for around Rs. 350 last week. This week it has gone up to between Rs. 450 and Rs. 500 per 12 kg box. With the festival season about to begin, Mr. Girdhari Lal felt that any further shortfall in supply would result in further escalation of prices.

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