Kolkata: Sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities, including fruits have cast a shadow over Lakshmi Puja celebrations across the state.
Over the past few years, the prices of various commodities, including vegetables, fruits, flowers, and other items needed during puja rituals have increased in leaps
and bounds.
Due to a steep rise in the cost of transportation, essential items are being sold at an exorbitant price.
It may be mentioned that the state government on a number of occasions has raised their voice against the Centre over its failure to check the prices of essential items but no major steps seemed to have been taken.
As a result, people belonging to lower middle class section are having a tough time to arrange Lakshmi Puja this year.
The Bengalis are celebrating Lakshmi Puja on Wednesday.
But the prices of various items including fruits in most of the city's markets are beyond the reach of
common people. It may be mentioned that the prices of fruits have recently spiked. The vegetable sellers at Sealdah market have admitted that the prices are a little high this time but there were hardly any measures to check the rise in prices, claimed the fruit sellers.
Subir Mondal, a fruit vendor at Sealdah market said: "The prices of fruits are high but we have nothing to do to control the price as there is a rule of the market. On various occasions including Durga Puja or Lakshmi Puja there is a rise in the demand of fruits but the supply remains static. As a result the prices go up."
Many people find it difficult to purchase vegetables due to high prices. On Tuesday, the prices of potatoes varied between Rs 24-30 per kg at various markets across the city and suburbs. The prices of Egg plant, Cauliflower and tomatoes remained at Rs 50-60, Rs 35-40, Rs 40-50 per kg respectively.
"We had to cut down on a lot of things to meet our budget as the prices of various items were high," said Binay Majumdar, a lower division clerk at a state
government job.
One Raju Biswas, an employee of a private farm and a resident of Entally, who came to Sealdah market said: "I have bought apples at Rs 100-140 per kg, cucumbers at 60-70 per kg, guavas at Rs 70 kg, bananas Rs 40-50 per dozen, oranges Rs 120-140 per dozen. Even the small Lakshmi idols were being sold at Rs 400-1,000 each at various markets, while buyers had to spend over Rs 1,000 for decorated ones.