Capital Matter: Vegetables get dearer in Delhi

The spiraling prices of vegetables in the city have stabilised as of now, but it has done so at a much higher level. Having already made a dent in the consumers' pockets, it has now got the Delhi state government to survey the price hike scene.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit recently directed the divisional and development commissioner to submit a survey report on the drought situation.

She had asked the officials to expedite the survey proceedings to assess the loss of vegetables and crops in the rural areas of the capital.

Even as the vendors blame it all on the monsoon, Rajendra Sharma, Chairman of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), refutes allegations that the wholesale prices of essential items like potato, onion, tomato and garlic have not risen much.

He said, "The wholesale prices are in fact very much in control. It is the roadside vendors who are charging exorbitant prices in the name of bad monsoon.

"The APMC is in no position to control the retail prices and the onus is on the government to take necessary steps so that the consumer is not taken for a ride." According to him the price of tomato has come down as compared to last year, but it is being sold at a much higher rate.

"Mangoes and cauliflower aside, the supply of vegetables and fruits has been quite normal. During July, and thereafter, cauliflower comes from Himachal Pradesh and hence the increase in price is considered a normal thing," said Sharma.

Dilshad, a vegetable vendor said, "We cannot be distributing vegetables free to people. The average wholesale prices of all vegetables have risen. Most vegetables are higher by Rs8-Rs10. Accordingly, the retail prices are much higher. It is all due to the monsoon not being in time."

"Gross lies," said an APMC official. "Even if the rates have risen, they have done so by a little margin, certainly not what vendors are claiming."

Even as the APMC blames it on the vendors and the latter on the monsoon, the Delhi state Government has been forced to issue public notices in major national dailies. Stating that both fruits and vegetable stocks are in control, it has requested the public not to get influenced by rumours and to stop hoarding fruits and vegetables.

Santosh Yadav, a housewife, said, "With sky-rocketing prices, who is in a position to hoard vegetables? As it is we have started buying vegetables in grams rather than in kilograms. But even when the vegetable vendor quotes prices per gram, one has to ask twice as the prices are shocking."

According to her, being vegetarians, the family is getting used to consuming pulses rather than vegetables. "Vegetables are being considered a luxury item and I add more of onions and potatoes in usually all vegetables to increase the quantity," she said.

With soaring prices of vegetables, many families have been forced to change their food habits in order to control their monthly budget.

But Haroon Yusuf, the Food and Supplies Minister, is not yet driven to press the panic button.

According to him, Delhi can never be fully drought-hit. He has been keeping an eye on the rise in vegetable prices over the last fortnight. The minister has ordered buying vegetables from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

The ministry's contingency plan is to monitor prices and put up a price list on the Azadpur Mandi website www.apmcazadpur.com so that consumers have easy access to them. "Declaring daily normal rates for vegetables and fruits will protect consumers against unjustified profiteering by retail vendors," said Yusuf.

The minister has directed the agricultural produce marketing committees to visit retail vegetable markets and check for any overcharging. He has stated that the prices of vegetables would continue to be published in newspapers.

Even as the Delhi state government is taking steps to control undue rise in vegetable prices, certain groups in various parts of the city are set to provide home delivery of vegetables at no extra cost. These aim at cutting out the middleman and provide fresh and hygienically packed quality products to the consumers.

The company head of one such outlet said, "We are picking vegetables from the wholesale market now. But we have plans to go even further and buy it straight from farmers. That will depend on the demand."

The dial-a vegetable and fruit scheme is fast getting popular in the capital as more and more housewives are discovering the pleasure of cooking without having to haggle with vegetable vendors.