M A I N   N E W S

Onion prices continue to bring tears

Chandigarh, October 24
The onion prices continued to be on the higher side in different markets of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today.

The food of the common man and an inseparable ingredient in many dishes of the region, the prices of onions today varied between Rs 20 to Rs 25 in different markets.

Despite traders buying the commodity in bulk from neighbouring Pakistan, reports reaching here said that the onion prices were still burning a hole in the common man’s pocket.

The commodity was selling over Rs 20 per kg in the retail market in Chandigarh, Jalandhar and Amritsar.

A report from Ludhiana said onion was selling at Rs 18 per kg in the wholesale market while its prices varied between Rs 22 to Rs 25 per kg in the retail market.

In Ambala, the prices of onions varied between Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg.

A report from Kaithal in Haryana said the commodity was selling around Rs 25 per kg in the retail market. The wholesale rate of onions varied between Rs 1800 per quintal to Rs 2100 per quintal depending on the crop’s quality.

In Sirsa, Yamunanagar and Hisar, the onions were available between Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg.

Amritsar: One more consignment of 30 tonnes of onion arrived at the international railway station at Attari here on Monday.

The consignment was brought by Rajdeep Uppal, an Amritsar-based vegetable trader who had imported the first lot of 30 tonnes of onions from Pakistan on Saturday.

Uppal, owner of Narain Exports Corporation, today’s consignment of 30 tonnes of onion was brought to India through the Samjautha Express.

New Delhi: The government today decided to import onion from China and Pakistan to tide over the crisis. “We have contracted import of 2,000 tonnes of onion from China and 650 tonnes from Pakistan and the overall prices of the commodity will stabilise soon,” Nafed Managing Director Alok Ranjan said.

“The consignment from Pakistan will reach Delhi market in a week, while the Chinese consignment will hit the Mumbai port within two weeks,” Ranjan said.

He said the wholesale prices were already coming down and it would stabilise in a day or two in the Capital. — PTI