The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila demands end to onion export

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Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila demands end to onion export

Staff Reporter

"Divert them to Delhi's markets to meet demand and check prices"

NEW DELHI: With the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party raising the issue of price rise on almost a daily basis in the run-up to the forthcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections, a very concerned Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has shot off a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar seeking a halt to export of onions and diversion of this essential vegetable to the Capital to check its price.

Ms. Dikshit has demanded that onion export through Nafed be stopped outright so that the supply in Delhi could improve.

While the quantity of onions she desires for Delhi has not been specified, experts believe even a 30 per cent diversion of the onions meant for export to Delhi's markets would considerably ease the prices here. The issue of onion prices had become very contentious for the Congress in Delhi as the opposition BJP had started raking it up regularly to garner support ahead of the MCD polls.

BJP grudge

The BJP also nurses a grudge against the Congress over the issue as the latter had successfully managed to convert the issue of rising onion prices into a key poll plank during the Delhi Assembly polls in 1998. And now that onion prices have again firmed up ahead of the MCD polls, the BJP is keen to exact revenge.

Eager not to allow it the upper hand, the Delhi Government has also decided to increase onion supply through its outlets at subsidised rates.

To begin with, it has decided to open five outlets at the four wholesale vegetable markets. While two outlets would be opened at Azadpur, one each would be opened at Okhla, Keshopur and Ghazipur.

At all these outlets, onions would be sold at a subsidised Rs. 16 per kg. Sources said should the need arise, more outlets would be opened and the option of use of mobile vans would also be exercised for sale of onions across the Capital.

The problem, they insist, is of inadequate supply. "Over the past 10 days, the supply has dwindled by 44.23 per cent. However, the prices are still under check. At the Azadpur wholesale market, onions sold for a minimum of Rs 7 per kg and maximum of Rs 15 per kg on Monday.

Since Delhi receives most of its onion supply from Maharashtra and Rajasthan and it could take some time for supplies to improve from there, efforts are also being made to procure more onions from nearby States such as Haryana.

However, the hope is really being pegged on the Centre to come to Delhi's rescue in this aspect.

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