To keep prices in check, govt to create buffer stock of veggies

NEW DELHI: Anticipating a rise in prices of potatoes and onions during summer, the Delhi government has decided to create a buffer stock in states from where Delhi imports these vegetables.

According to government officials, the government will purchase onions and potatoes in bulk and stock it there and once there is a rise in prices, the stock will be brought to Delhi to be sold at normal rates.

During his speech at a public meeting in northeast Delhi’s Karawal Nagar on Sunday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that to control inflation, the Delhi government is going to do something, which no government has done before. “We are aware of rise in the prices of essential commodities during summer. For potatoes and onions, we are coming up with a new plan and this will be the first such experiment in the country. We will not let prices increase this time,” Kejriwal said.

Government sources said that he was talking about a buffer stock -- the proposal for which has been finalized. “Delhi purchases onions from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh while potatoes are imported from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. We will purchase 10,000 tonnes of these vegetables and stock it in these states. Prices tends to increase after June and if that happens, the buffer stock will be transported to Delhi and we will be able to sell at normal rates,” said a senior government official.

The government is also exploring the possibility of importing vegetables through the horticulture train run by the Central government.

As prices of vegetables have already started shooting up in Delhi, with almost 50% of the Rabi crop in parts of north India destroyed due to heavy rains, the Delhi government is taking various steps to keep prices under control.