Household budgets hit as prices double

The prices doubled to around `30 in the beginning of September. Now, the price of best quality is ranging from `60 to over `70 kg in the retail market.

Owing to high prices, people have cut down on consumption of this commodity.

An onion merchant said the states from where onions are imported have received heavy rainfall. Onion rates have been continuously increasing each day and have gone sky high in several parts of Karimnagar district.

The price of this commodity, which was `10 per kg in July, is now selling from `50 to `70 per kg at retail outlets. Three different qualities of onion are available and prices of all the three have been soaring from the past two months.

The prices doubled to around `30 in the beginning of September. Now, the price of best quality is ranging from `60 to over `70 kg in the retail market. Owing to high prices, people have cut down on consumption of onions.

T. Anil Kumar, a private school teacher, said, “If the situation continues to remain bad during the next month too, the state government should take up the responsibility of making available this essential commodity to general public by opening special onion counters and selling onions at a lower price.”

P. Sugunamma, an onion merchant, said the states from where onions are imported have received heavy rainfall. Due to this, their production has fallen, with the resulting shortage leading to a continuous rise in their prices. The prise rise may continue until Deepavali festival, she remarked.