New Delhi. The Center on Tuesday said the fifth consignment of 720 tonnes of buffer onion will reach the national capital on November 21 as part of market intervention to control prices. This is a part of the government’s initiative launched last month, under which buffer onions will be transported from Maharashtra to Delhi for the first time through railways. So far, 4,010 tonnes of onion has been sent for retail sale at the rate of Rs 35 per kg.
According to a government statement, “Another consignment of 720 tonnes, which is the fifth consignment of this series, left Nashik yesterday and is likely to reach Delhi by November 21.” Of the fourth consignment of 840 tonnes which arrived on November 17, the government has allocated 500 tonnes of onions to Mother Dairy, 190 tonnes to NCCF and 150 tonnes to NAFED for retail sale in Delhi-NCR. The government said that bulk arrivals have significantly affected onion prices in Delhi at both wholesale and retail levels. Apart from Delhi, similar initiatives are going on in other cities also.
The government has recently sent 840-840 tonnes of onions to Chennai and Guwahati. There is a plan to send 840 tonnes more to Guwahati this week, while Lucknow will get the same quantity in 2-3 days. After shortage of supply in some markets during the festive season and market closure, the Center has decided to increase onion supply.
NAFED, a cooperative body, has this week requested two additional rail-rakes for Delhi-NCR and one rake for Guwahati. Co-operative NCCF plans to deploy one more rake in the coming week, while road transportation is being increased.
The government will also release onions from Sonipat cold storage for supply to Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi. Out of the 4.7 lakh tonne buffer stock created this year, the government has already supplied 1.50 lakh tonne.