Rain, chill play spoiler, send vegetable prices soaring

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 14

Heavy rain at this time of sowing crops has played a spoilsport causing an uncalled-for hike in the prices of vegetables.

Sucheta Sharma, a housewife, said, “Soaring vegetable prices are burning a hole in the pocket of common people these days. There is no respite for the common man as the prices of essential commodities have risen further.”

She said even data showed that the retail inflation rose by 7.35% last month. “However, the government is not least bothered about taking up necessary steps to rein in the rising inflation. Even the opposition parties have failed to impress upon the ruling government to initiate measures to arrest the inflation,” she said.

Onion is still beyond the reach of the common man as it is selling for Rs 60 per kg. The prices of ginger and garlic, which are taken as a medicine in winter, are being sold at Rs 120 and Rs 200 per kg, respectively, on the retail market. Besides, capsicum is selling for Rs 70, tomato Rs 30-40, radish Rs 30, carrot Rs 30-40 and cauliflower Rs 30.

Surjit Singh, a retired employee, said common people and their needs did not figure in the priority list of the government. Kawaljit Singh, a wholesale commission agent, said heavy rain during the sowing period curtailed the sowing area and frost this winter proved a double whammy for farmers and consumers. These two factors led to rise in the prices of vegetables, he added.