Kolkata, November 3: The price of onion in Kolkata has reached Rs 100 per kg. Onions are being sold at the rate of Rs 100 per kg in many retail markets. While the minimum price of onion is Rs 80 per kg in the retail markets of Kolkata, it is being sold at the rate of Rs 100 per kg in the markets of posh areas.
The West Bengal government has constituted a task force to keep the prices of essential commodities under control in the retail markets. Their members have expressed apprehension that due to the upcoming festive season, there will be an increase in onion prices. An increase in onion prices will be seen during festivals like Kali Puja, Diwali, and Bhai Phota (Bhai Dooj), after that the prices may come down.
Task force members have started taking precautionary measures to control prices in retail markets. The task force members along with the police visited various retail markets and asked the sellers to maintain the price of onion within reasonable limits.
On rising onion prices, members of the task force said that onion prices are skyrocketing, mainly due to a combination of internal and external factors.
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A member of the task force on this issue said, “Onion production is limited in West Bengal and we have to mainly depend on Nashik in Maharashtra for onion supply.”
He further said that onion suppliers are on strike, due to which the supply of onion is getting affected and the prices are rising. The central government is purchasing onions directly from farmers through cooperative societies. The central government is also showing favoritism towards us. Because in Delhi the central government is selling onion at Rs 30 per kg. But in West Bengal, it is selling at Rs 50 per kg.”
Despite all this, another reason why onions are sold at such high prices in the retail markets is the existence of middlemen and hoarders. Because middlemen and hoarders are artificially increasing the price.
