Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung stepped in to take stock of the escalating prices of onions in the city and directed the Delhi government’s Food and Supplies department to start sale of onions at 200 locations through 60- 70 mobile vans, he cracked the whip on hoarders with an early- morning raid.
Taking the directions forward, the department launched a major drive against the hoarders of essential commodities, specially onions and potatoes.
“ The department constituted 70 teams headed by Food and Supply Officer, Inspectors, Legal Metrology Officers and Delhi Police personnel. Each team was assigned a particular area and was directed to scan the entire area and not to spare anyone indulging in hoarding or other malpractices to cheat consumers. The teams have so far conducted raids on 532 premises,” said a senior Delhi government official.
Officials conducted raids at places such as Okhla Mandi, Azadpur Mandi, Keshavpuram Mandi, Minto Road, RK Puram, Sarojini Nagar and Lajpat Nagar, among others. The raiding teams also prosecuted 42 traders for violation of Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Legal Metrology Act, 2009. If convicted, the violators face imprisonment up to seven years.
Earlier on Wednesday, the L- G had instructed NAFED to purchase onions on behalf of Delhi government. NAFED officials said they have the infrastructure to store and preserve up to 300- 400 tonnes of onions.
Besides, all SAFAL outlets across the city have been instructed to double the stock and sale of onions and potatoes across its 380 outlets.
In addition, the Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board has been instructed to set up 60 to 70 mobile vans across Delhi to sell onions and potatoes at government determined rates.
In order to control onion prices, the Centre on Tuesday announced an increase in the Minimum Export Price ( MEP) of onions. While previously, the MEP of onions was $ 15 per tonne, it has now been pushed to $ 300 per tonne to stop exports.
Last year, India had exported over 3 lakh metric tonnes of onions.