Cap vegetable, fruit prices, seek residents

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, March 27

As vendors in the city are charging exorbitantly for various items, residents demanded that the district administration should cap the prices of essential commodities, including vegetable, fruit, wheat flour and cooking oil, to prevent hoarding.

They also complained that the list of grocery and vegetable vendors issued by the district administration mentioned only one contact number for each retail shop which is making it difficult to contact them.

“The numbers are mostly not reachable or busy and even if we managed to place the order, they are charging more than the actual price,” staed one of the city residents on her Twitter handle.

Another resident Kamlesh, a housewife, said prices of essential items such as fruits, vegetables and medicines had been increased. Though the administration has provided a channel for door-to-door delivery of essentials, keeping a tab over prices of commodities sold by shop owners and vendors was important.

“It is a hard time for all. Vendors should not take benefit out of the prevailing situation by charging more than the actual price. People are scared. We also have a perception that the curfew might get extended. Hence, we have no other choice but to purchase vegetables and fruits at any cost,” she added.

Meanwhile, some of the residents complained that those vendors or shop owners who had political connections got passes easily and were indulging in black-marketing. One of the residents in Chogitti, said a vendor in their area was providing commodities at high prices. He said the vendor was selling wheat flour at Rs 300 for Rs 10 kg and tomato at Rs 50 per kg.

Another resident Anita Chabra said onion was being sold at Rs 50-60 per kg, tomato Rs 50, potato Rs 40, ginger Rs 120-130, kinnow at Rs 60 and apple at Rs 200 per kg. She said the administration must act against the issue and release a list of the maximum selling price for vendors and shops. District Mandi Officer Davinder Singh accepted that some vendors were charging exorbitantly. He said a warning to all shop owners and vendors had been issued in this regard.

He said in a meeting held with vendors this morning, clear instructions had been issued that if they sell commodities at higher prices, they won’t be allowed to do the business.