M A I N   N E W S

Govt to import onions

New Delhi, October 22
With onion prices shooting up across the country, the government tonight decided to import the commodity to protect “consumer interest”.

A PTI report said the decision to this effect was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to review the production, storage and availability of onion in the country. Pawar had yesterday ruled out such an option.

Varinder Walia adds from Amritsar: The import of 30 tonnes of onion from Pakistan is unlikely to arrest the spiralling prices of the product.

Mr Rajpal Uppal of Narain Export Corporation, who imported the onion from the Sindh and Balochistan provinces in Pakistan, said only 30 tonnes of onion reached here through the Samjhauta Express today and would be required in Amritsar alone.

Despite the announcement made by the Centre not to import onion from Pakistan, Mr Uppal said it did not apply to traders. He said he had placed an order for 500 tonnes of onion from Pakistan on the telephone, which would reach here shortly.

While Mr Uppal imported the onion at Rs 12 per kg it is being sold between Rs 18 and Rs 25 prices in the market.

A shortfall in the supply has resulted in a steep rise in the onion prices.

Market observers say the prices are unlikely to come down.