Delhi to procure sugar, onion from NAFED if prices rise; take action against hoarders: CM Gupta

The Delhi government will monitor the availability of sugar and onion and procure them from NAFED in case prices rise further to ensure people get them at affordable rates, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday.

Gupta assessed the availability of sugar and onion in the capital at a review meeting, and warned of strict action against hoarders.

Delhi Food Supply Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government will not allow the burden of rising onion and sugar prices to fall on the people.

At the meeting, officials said there is currently no shortage of onion or sugar in the capital.

However, if prices rise further, the Delhi government will procure onion and sugar from the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), a Central government body, and arrange to make them available at various locations across the capital, a statement from the chief minister’s office said.

These items will be sold based on the prices at which they are procured from NAFED, while the Delhi government will bear the cost of transportation and other related expenses, it said.

The all-India average retail price of onion jumped more than 28 per cent in a month to Rs 44.72/kg on August 25, up from Rs 34.80 per kg on July 25.

Among major cities, retail onion prices on Tuesday stood at Rs 60 per kg in Chennai, Rs 55 per kg in Delhi, Rs 60 per kg in Kolkata and Rs 48 per kg in Mumbai.

Sugar continued its upward march on Tuesday, rising by about Re 1 per kg to nearly Rs 64 in the retail market as recent government measures to curtail the surge take effect.

On Monday, the average price was Rs 63.05 per kg.

According to data compiled by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the all-India average rate of sugar stood at Rs 63.97 per kg on August 25, a 31 per cent increase from Rs 48.81 per kg a month back.