Mohali vendors continue to sell items at higher price

Harshabab Sidhu

Mohali, April 2

The fear of Covid-19 has already burdened the people around the world and to add to this misery are vegetable and fruit vendors who are selling goods at double the price.

Despite making certain rules and regulations to ensure that people are not overcharged, the Mohali administration is unable to serve the purpose.

After conducting surveys at Sectors 70, 71, Phases 9, 11, Landran and Mataur villages, it was found that vegetable and fruit vendors were selling items at much higher price as compared with the capped price.

Residents complained that vendors were not taking proper precautions. Majority of the fruit vendors did not wear masks and gloves while selling items.

Sunita, a resident of Phase 11, said, “In my area, apples and bananas are being sold at Rs 200 and Rs 70 per kg, respectively. The rates charged by the vendors are unaffordable for the common man.”

Vibhuti Mishra, a resident of Landran village, said, “Vendors are fleecing residents of our area. They are selling items two times more than the price fixed by the Deputy Commissioner.”

However, vendors said they were getting material at expensive rates due to which they were unable to sell it to people at cheap rates. Some vendors failed to show the bill when they were asked for it.

Lalit, a resident of Sector 70, said, “I bought 1-kg oranges for Rs 90 today against the fixed rate

of Rs 60.”

Mohali SDM Jagdeep Saigal said if compared with the old rates, new rates of vegetables and fruits went down in the past few days as the supply had increased. “We have put various teams, including 20 mandi supervisors and a few inspectors, on job to keep a check on prices. Strict action will be taken against those found selling vegetables and fruits

above the capped price,” the SDM said.

Reviewing the demand and supply of fruits and vegetables in the district, Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan had issued a revised retail rate list for sale of fruits and vegetables in the city.

The DC had also warned fruit and vegetable sellers against overpricing and said the prices should not exceed the fixed rate and any violation of the order would not be tolerated.