GUWAHATI, Nov 6: Onion prices are unlikely to come down in Assam, at least for the next three months (till January), even as the State Government went into a huddle with traders over soaring prices.
A kilogram of onion has shot up to Rs 80 this week although the Government had earlier fixed prices at Rs 46/kg.
Assam Food and Civil Supplies Minister Phani Bhushan Choudhury today convened an emergent meeting with departmental officials and representatives of commerce bodies at Dispur.
While efforts were made to provide some relief to consumers by fixing prices at Rs 66/kg for a week in Guwahati markets, the Kamrup Chambers of Commerce — one of the apex commerce bodies of the district — claimed prices will continue to remain on the higher side and might not fall for the next three months.
The government and trader bodies said onion prices have risen at the source with a kilogram selling at Rs 45 in Nashik, Maharashtra.
The State Government also launched two toll-free numbers for consumers to register complaints in case traders sell at more than the Government-fixed price.
“Consumers can register complaints by dialing our toll-free numbers 1967 and 18003453611 if traders charge more than the prices fixed by the government,” Choudhury said.
The Food and Civil Supplies Minister also said the government was importing more onions from Nashik, Gujarat and Rajasthan and that it will take onion-laden trucks a week to reach Guwahati.
Onion prices were already on the higher side, at around Rs 55-60 a kilogram, but sky-rocketed to Rs 80/kg in retail markets across Assam.
