Maharashtra govt plans raids on hoarders

The government seems to have woken up after prices of onions hit the roof. The Agriculture and marketing department has decided to conduct raids on hoarders and start 28 consumer centres in Mumbai and Thane to sell onions at the cheaper rates.

Agriculture and marketing minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil held a meeting of the office bearers of Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board on Thursday evening in Pune to decide on the course of action to curb the inflation.

However, despite the decision to start the centres, the board has clarified that they see no immediate measures to control the increasing prices of vegetables.   

“The inflation of the prices of the vegetables and onions is driven by the market forces as the supply of the commodities is less than the demand. Though we have undertaken the measures to bring down the prices of onions, the board can hardly intervene in the market as far as the prices of the vegetables are concerned,” said Sheshrao Sangle, director, marketing.

Sangle said that with 10 consumer centres in Thane and 18 in Mumbai, the price of onion is expected to come down by 50% in next few days. “Onions sold at the centres will be at reasonable prices as only transportation and handling charges will be levied,” he said.

“Also, the collectors of the respective districts have been directed to conduct raids on onion hoarders. But, since the life of the onion of the late kharip crop is hardly one and a half months, hoarding is almost out of the question.”