CWG means no salad days

Vegetable prices shoot up as movement of trucks restricted ahead of the Games

Vegetable prices shoot up as movement of trucks restricted ahead of the Games

Adding fuel to a number of controversies that the XIX Commonwealth Games have generated, here comes another one. A consistent rise in prices of vegetables and essential commodities over the past 15 days has shaken the people as well as their domestic budgets in the national capital.


Off The Plate : Prices of vegetables have soared in the national capital
in the run up to the Commonwealth Games. file pic

Since last week the prices of vegetables, including tomatoes, peas, onion, capsicum and even lemon have gone unreasonably high.u00a0

"One sack that usually has 40-50 kg of potatoes used to come for Rs 300, but with the Games nearing, a sack costs now costs Rs 400. I have to keep my margin of profit, otherwise what will I earn. Customers complain that we are selling it for more. I cannot help it if I get it at this rate from the local wholesale market," said Sonu, a vegetable vendor in Mayur Vihar, east Delhi.

Tomatoes and onions have gone for an unbelievable high of Rs 3o and 25 per kg from Rs 25 and 20 respectively. A kilogram of peas simply costs a fortune at Rs 100, having gone up from an already high of Rs 80. All-time green capsicum has also got expensive for Rs 60 from a modest Rs 40.

"Most of the outstation transporters have stopped their bookings for the coming days to avoid security hassles. We are expecting a loss of 35-40 per cent in the overall business, which has contributed to a rise in prices,"

said Praveen Khandelwal, General Secretary of Confederation of All India Traders. A transporter in Kamla Market also pointed out that even in the inter-city movement of goods has become difficult with the cops targeting tempos and small trucks carrying essential items.u00a0 "There are only limited restrictions on the transport.

There are no restrictions for transport moving in the night," said Rajan Bhagat, PRO, Delhi Police.

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