Delhi govt to procure onions from Nasik on daily basis

In an attempt to combat the rising onion prices, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) - after directives from the Lieutenant Governor - is all set to sell its freshly procured batch of onions from Maharashtra in order to meet the city requirements, sold through 380 Safal outlets in Delhi.

"The Delhi Government has provided necessary funds to NAFED for the procurement of onions. A team of officers from Safal and Delhi government is in Nasik, Maharashtra to oversee the procurement and to ensure the quality of onions procured. Based on the requirements, onions will be purchased daily from Maharashtra and will be dispatched to the city to ensure uninterrupted supply," said a senior Delhi government official.

Onions were sold at Safal outlets for Rs 20.90 per kg, while potatoes were sold for Rs 24.50 per kg on Monday.

Earlier, the L-G had directed the Food and Supply Department and Department of Agriculture to keep a close watch on arrival and prices of onions and potatoes and other essential commodities in the city.

Development Commissioner Puneet Goel said the traders of the three mandis in Delhi - Azadpur, Keshopur and Shahdara (Ghazipur) - had started selling onions and potatoes at subsidised prices through 30 mobile vans in areas such as Mukherjee Nagar, Rohini, Shalimar Bagh, Jahangir Puri and Paschim - among others.

Goel said the government would carry out the requisite amendments to the Delhi Agriculture Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1998, to enable direct purchase of fruits and vegetables.

In association with Mail Today