Lt Governor Najeeb Jung sets Rs 40/kg cap for onions in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government assured the Centre on Friday that all possible steps are being taken to keep onion prices under check. Interacting with state consumer affairs ministers, Union food minister Ram VilasPaswan said that Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has said that their challenge is to ensure that even in the worst situation onion prices don’t go beyond Rs 40 a kg.
Later talking to TOI, Jung said, “Our effort is to keep the price under control. We will take necessary measures to ensure that prices don’t rise. We are not setting any maximum target,” he said.
On the issue of fixing the stock holding limit of onion and potato by wholesalers and retailers, he said the issue is being discussed within the government. Delhi government officials said a decision would be taken soon.
On Thursday, the consumer affairs department of Union government empowered states to fix such limits.
Meanwhile, Delhi government has issued a draft notification to delist fruits and vegetables from Azadpur, Keshopur and Shahdara Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) or mandis in the capital. “We are ware of this development. They have sought suggestions and objections to this proposal within 45 days of this draft notification,” a government official said.
“In pursuance of the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 3 read with section 4 (4) of the Delhi Agriculture Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1998 (Delhi, Act of 1999), the LG, government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, is pleased to declare his intention of ceasing the regulation of marketing of such agricultural produce of fruit and vegetables in the respective market areas of the above-mentioned marketing committees in the NCT of Delhi,” the draft notification said.
Once finalized, this will empower growers to sell their produce outside the purview of the mandis.