As per a report in the Hindu (read original story) Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the Commission had given permission to the government on Friday to take immediate measures to facilitate sale of onions at reasonable prices. Accordingly, the city government has deployed 80 mobile vans to sell onions at Rs 55 a kg with a plan to increase the number of vehicles to 125 by Monday.
With the price touching Rs 100 a kg, people with even decent income are finding it difficult to afford. The spiraling prices of vegetables have become the hottest issue with Assembly elections in five states including Delhi are merely one month away.
The worried Congress government had approached the Election Commission to allow market intervention to stabilise the prices. Each van will now cater to at least four places in the city. The government has also directed concerned officials to visit Alwar and Nashik mandis to ensure adequate supply of onions to Delhi.
“Onion prices will see a fall in the next 2-3 days. We have taken a number of measures to provide relief to the people from high onion prices,” said Ms. Dikshit addressing a press conference along with her Cabinet Ministers Haroon Yusuf, Raj Kumar Chauhan and Arvinder Singh. “After weeks I ate onions today with ‘bhindi’ (lady finger),” she added.
