Daily inspections to check hoarding of tomatoes

As prices of tomatoes and onions skyrocketed in the national capital, the Delhi government on Tuesday ordered daily inspections to check hoarding in wholesale markets. The AAP government has constituted various teams of officers of food and civil supplies department and directed them to submit a daily report on prices of tomatoes and onions in wholesale markets.

Prices of tomatoes have soared to around Rs 100 per kg in retail markets of the city, while onion prices have risen to Rs 27 per kg.

The tomato prices have shot up about four times since the beginning of June, when they were being sold at about Rs 25 per kg in the Delhi-NCR.

The government also directed inspection of retail markets in different parts of Delhi. An official said a "huge variation" between retail prices and whole sale prices indicates that the possibility of hoarding of these commodities could not be ruled out. "Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain has directed officials to carry out intense inspections in wholesale markets to keep prices of tomatoes and onions under control by strictly curbing hoarding of these items," the official said.