The Hindu : New Delhi News : Different strokes for different folks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 09, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Different strokes for different folks

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

– FILE PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

DIFFERENT STROKES: The difference in rates you get here and at any other place elsewhere in the city might well be as stark as the difference between summer and winter.

NEW DELHI: Despite the Centre announcing various fiscal measures to stem the inflation and the Delhi Government declaring that the wholesale price situation is under control, people across the Capital are faced with different rates for items of daily use as there are no checks and balances on the traders who continue to charge at will.

A reality check on prices of daily necessities across the city reveals that not only are there variations in the rates being charged in various areas, the difference at times is as high as 50 per cent when it comes to particular commodities. So while wheat flour is being sold by Jain Ki Dukan at Mayur Vihar in East Delhi at Rs.15 per kg, Gupta Stores at Rohini in North-West Delhi is selling it for Rs.20 per kg.

On the other hand, while Gupta Stores is charging Rs.45-50 per kg of arhar dal, it is being sold for Rs.55 per kg at Jindal flour Mills and Provision Store in South Delhi’s R.K. Puram.

In the case of refined oils, whose prices have shot through the roof in the recent past mainly on account of forward trading, the variation in rates is again quite stark. While Jain Ki Dukan and Bansal Provision Store in Siddharth Nagar, South Delhi, have been selling it for Rs. 65 per litre, at Khanna Stores in Gole Market, Central Delhi, it is being sold for Rs.70 a litre.

Even in the case of particular brands, the rates vary. So while a litre of Sundrop oil costs Rs.100 at Gupta Stores, at Khanna Stores it is being sold for Rs.102 and at Jindal Flour Mills at Rs.106.

While sugar is being generally traded at Rs.18 per kg across the city, the price of rice parmal has, barring a few exceptions, stayed put at Rs.18 per kg at most stores. In the case of basmati rice though the prices fluctuate widely on account of quality. And so from a variety that sells for Rs.25 per kg at Jindal Flour Mills, the rates can go up to Rs.30 per kg for the one being sold by Bansal Provision Stores.

Incidentally, when the Delhi Government’s Food and Civil Supplies Department had in April begun placing advertisements informing people about the wholesale rates of vegetables, the idea was to let people know what the wholesale rates were and therefore what would be a reasonable rate in the retail. But in the case of general grocery items, there is no such list that is displayed and people are left at the mercy of the retailers who charge at will.

While in the case of packed products the maximum retail price is usually mentioned, it does not provide the buyers with a real idea of the price as often these rates are inflated so that the margins in the hands of retailers are more. In fact, it is from these margins that the retailers give their customers “discounts” on the products.

However, the rates being charged in various markets are also dependent on the volumes traded by the retailers. Those selling more when the prices are dipping are generally able to sell for less than those who are laden with old stocks procured at higher rates.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi