UT sells onions amid ‘security’, at Rs 32 a kg

CHANDIGARH: Over 10 quintals of onion were sold at stalls set up by the Department of Food and Supplies, UT, at five places in the city today. The UT Administration started selling onions on a no-profit, no-loss basis a day after Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore issued a direction in this regard.

Employees of the UT Administration sell onions on a no-profit, no-loss basis at the community centre in Mani Majra on Thursday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 26

Over 10 quintals of onion were sold at stalls set up by the Department of Food and Supplies, UT, at five places in the city today.

The UT Administration started selling onions on a no-profit, no-loss basis a day after Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore issued a direction in this regard.

Onions were sold at Rs 32 per kg, almost half the market price. Stalls were set up at five community centres in the city — Modern Housing Complex in Mani Majra, Dhanas, Vikas Nagar in Mauli Jagran, Ram Darbar and Maloya.

The department provided 2 kg of onion to a person each at the counters to ensure maximum residents were benefited. While long queues were witnessed at the centres, some people also complained that the quality of onions sold was low. Mamta, a resident of Mauli Jagran, appreciated the Administration’s initiative but stated that the department should have ensured the quality of onion sold at the stalls.

An entry of each beneficiary was made in a register. The staff deputed at the community centres sought Aadhaar cards of the beneficiaries to update records of the Direct Benefit Scheme. The department is already running special camps for verification of the DBT beneficiaries at community centres.

Two Home Guards volunteers were also deployed at each community centre.

District Food and Civil Supplies Officer Ashok Kumar said Aadhaar cards were being checked to update the DBT information. The staff used the opportunity to fill the forms if any correction was required. He said they were keeping record of beneficiaries to ensure the person did not return to buy more. He said in the coming days, the quantity of onion would also be increased to meet the demands of residents.

The department will continue to sell onions at controlled rate to provide respite to the general public from the soaring prices of the vegetable. Two mobile vans selling onions have also been stationed at Burail and Dadu Majra villages.