Vijayawada: Marriages push up prices of onions

Vijayawada: The skyrocketing prices of almost all the vegetables are worrying the consumers.

The prices of tomatoes, onions, brinjal and others has  increased by 200 per cent in the last 10 days with huge demand from the catering and hotel industry, as there are many functions and marriages being held in the city.

The directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to maintain sufficient stock of onions and tomatoes at  Rythu Bazaars was ignored and only a few counters have been opened to sell these two vegetables.

Surprisingly, the prices of essential commodities were under control and within the reach of common man in summer season but have skyrocketed in rainy season when there would be good crop due to adequate rains.

The price of onions, which usually are imported from Rayalaseema and Maharashtra, were normal till the recent past with good crop. The demand for onions and tomatoes has doubled with marriages and the retailers are selling tomatoes at '45 per kg and onions at '50 a kg.

Rythu Bazaars are failing to supply onions and tomatoes adequately to the public, despite directions from the chief minister.

Only three stalls have been opened at Swaraj Maidan Rythu Bazaar in Vijayawada where onions of poor quality are being sold at different prices.
District collector B. Lakshmikantham inspected the Rythu Bazaars and queue lines arranged at the onion counters.  

“Quality of the onions and tomatoes sold at Rythu Bazaars  is poor. The vendors are being rude and refusing to sell tomatoes to the general public. They are hoarding stocks for bulk sale.  Some stalls are selling tomatoes for Rs 23 a kg while some other are selling the same for Rs 30 a kg. Officials are failing to check the vendors who are fleecing the public,” said K. Vanaja, a homemaker.

“We are seeing huge stock of tomatoes in the stalls but the vendors refuse to sell them for prices mentioned on the boards. Quality vegetables are being sold to hotels,” said Jampa Vara Prasad, a buyer.