Veggie rates vary as supplies routed from Chandigarh

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 4

Prices of tomatoes, which were selling in retail for about Rs35-40 per kg, crashed to Rs20 as vegetables in bulk were routed here from the Chandigarh mandi on Monday morning. Arhtiyas said since the mandi in Chandigarh and many other areas were closed, vegetables in bulk were routed to the main sabzi mandi here.

With farmers continuing their strike, the rates of vegetables and fruits are fluctuating in this part of the region. “Two or three days ago, when the supply was hit, the prices rose considerably. With vegetable supplies routed here from the closed mandis in Chandigarh and other cities, the prices came down on Monday morning. The supply was more than the demand in the mandi on Monday,” said Gurmeet Singh, a vendor at the Dandi Swami market.

Yesterday and day before yesterday, there was panic among residents over the sudden hike in vegetable prices. Though arhtiyas said the prices would be decided on a daily basis depending on the supply of vegetables, residents were buying veggies in excess to be on safer side.

One of the arhtiyas, Amarvir Singh, said on Saturday, the prices increased all of a sudden as the vegetable supply was badly hit. “The prices of green chilli, which was selling for Rs10-15 per kg, increased to Rs60-70 per kg. The vegetables and fruits are perishable items and these cannot be stored for too long. It is better to buy vegetables as per household demand, as in severe summer days, these rot fast,” he said.

Meanwhile, home makers said such protests take a heavy toll on the common man. “Ultimately, consumers have to bear the brunt of various protests, which is unjustified,” said Mona, a home maker.