“We had no other alternative, but to take this decision after a meeting with traders yesterday,” said state Agriculture Marketing minister Arup Roy. As the traders were apprehensive that prices would remain high until fresh crop reached markets, the government resorted to this strategy to give some relief to the people, he said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier directed traders to crack down on hoarders and also asked the task force to visit markets to ensure people were not charged exorbitantly.
Roy said one would be able to buy <g data-gr-id="23">500 gram</g> packets of onion at the cost of Rs 25 per day from government outlets and selling of onions at <g data-gr-id="22">subsidised</g> rate from them would continue till prices eased.
Of the 49 outlets, 25 stalls were run by the Agriculture Marketing department, while the remaining 24
outlets would be run by the Horticulture Department.
Stating that all these outlets were in Kolkata and its adjacent Howrah, North 24 Parganas and South Parganas districts, Roy said, “Some of them are mobile units. The state government has plans to increase the number of outlets.”
These outlets would also come up in mandis in other districts, he said. The minister said at present the wholesale price of onions was around Rs 60 per <g data-gr-id="26">kg,</g> while the retail prices <g data-gr-id="25">was</g> Rs 70 to Rs 80 per kg.