Hussain directs officers to normalize supply of onions

NEW DELHI: Food & Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday reviewed the issue of retail prices of onions in Delhi with Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies, senior officers of Food and Civil Supplies Department, APMC and Mother Dairy/Safal.

In the meeting, officers of APMC informed that due to floods in Maharashtra, regular supplies of onions from Nashik were disrupted for few days for which the concerned officers have been instructed to normalize the supply of onions in abundance.

It was further informed that the supplies of onion to Delhi have since increased from Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh etc. Officers of Mother Dairy/Safal Outlets informed that NAFED has sufficient stock of onion, and supplies in the retail market by Mother Dairy/Safal have been increased so that the retail prices of onion may not increase.

The officers informed that the retail prices of onions in Delhi are not likely to increase further in view of sufficient supplies and stored stocks. Hussain, however, directed the APMC to hold meetings with Onion Merchants/Associations to ensure that onion retail prices are under control.

The Minister also directed Food & Supplies Department and APMC to take effective enforcement action against hoarding activities, possible cartelization and black-marketing etc.

He directed to send the Enforcement Teams to the various markets and godowns for checking such activities, if any. The officers were also directed to send daily inspection reports for the perusal of the Minister.

Hussain directed Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies to convene regular meetings with stakeholder departments/agencies to ensure that prices of onion and other commodities are stable and under control.