Being overcharged for fruits & vegetables, rue Chandigarh residents

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

Residents of several areas have alleged that they are being overcharged by fruit and vegetable vendors, even by those on CTU buses.

Deepak Garg, a resident of Sector 46, Chandigarh, said he went to buy onion from a CTU bus parked at the Community Centre in Sector 45. No rate list was displayed on the bus and the vendor sold onions to him at Rs 60 per kg, he said, adding that later he came to know that the Administration had fixed the rate of onions at Rs 35 per kg.

In a similar complaint, Mahesh Chander, a resident of Sector 30, said he was forced to by cauliflower at Rs 60 per kg, whereas the price fixed by the authorities of the vegetable was Rs 40 per kg.

Similar complaints of exorbitant rates being charged by fruit and vegetable vendors were received from Sector 22, 38, 45 and Mani Majra among others. Some residents said the Administration should fix the timing and place of the CTU bus selling fruits and vegetables.

Manoj Sood, a resident of Shanti Nagar in Mani Majra, said two buses carrying fruits and vegetables came to Mani Majra this morning and the nearest bus was stationed near the police station, which was nearly 1 km away from their location. He said they could not buy veggies as the police did not allow them to go out of their houses.

Appreciating the efforts of the Chandigarh Administration in streamlining the supply of essential items, Hitesh Puri, president, CRAWFED, said instead of selling fruits and vegetables in big buses, which could enter the inner areas of sectors, the Administration should press into service small tempos, which could deliver goods on the doorstep. Rehriwalas could also be allowed to sell fruits and vegetables, but with the rate list displayed.

However, Mayor Raj Bala Malik said from tomorrow morning, vegetables would be sold in sectors on the doorstep of residents by sector-wise vendors whose mobile number would be given. Further, milk would also be supplied through rehris. Chemist shops would also remain open in case of an emergency, she added.

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