Rather than procure tasteless, yellow onions from neighbouring countries at a premium, Mumbaikars wish the government would crack down on hoarders and profiteers who take cues from politicians' statements and hold stocks.
"The arrival of small quantities of onions from Egypt and Afghanistan in Navi Mumbai or Amritsar neither mitigates the woes of consumers nor poses a threat to hoarders. These bulbs are bland and soft, far inferior to the red Nashik variety. Yet people have to pay Rs 60 a kg for them. It is surprising to see the state seek international remedies for the homegrown scourge of hoarding . Why doesn't it force farmers and wholesalers to release stocks?" asked R Ganasekar, a resident of Navi Mumbai.
Twenty-one truckloads of Pakistani onions reached the market on Thursday, soon after 45 vehicles had arrived from Hubli, Karnataka. The wholesale rate in Vashi APMC was Rs 45 for new onion and Rs 60 for the preferred old variety.
Retail rates stood at Rs 70-80 a kg across Mumbai and Thane. "Each vendor claims his produce is of the best quality so it costs more. There is no visible shortage or rationing but prices are high," said Shareen Amin of Jogeshwari , where the bulb was priced at Rs 75 on Thursday over Rs 68 on Tuesday.
Retailers allege that wholesalers in APMC are mixing inferior onions while charging for premium quality produce. "Local distributors like us are shown samples of best produce for a high price, say, Rs 65-70 a kg. Once we place an order, though, low grade onions are mixed with it before our very eyes. We are not allowed to choose. If we protest, they start emptying the sacks asking us to take it or leave it," said a retailer from Bandra.
He alleged bulk buyers must pay a fee to get the consignment weighed, Rs 5 for the first bag and Rs 10 for every sack that follows. This additional cost is passed on to the consumer.
APMC director Ashok Walunj, though, said this fee is levied by mathadi workers as part of the loading process . "Do you not pay the porter at the railway station to carry luggage? Doesn't he weigh it in order to determine the fee?"
Walunj said wholesale rates would drop to Rs 40-42 with the arrival of around 25-30 tonne on Friday. "We convened a meeting of the 500-odd traders at APMC and advised them to source from Karnataka until the Lasalgaon crop comes," he said.
Times view
The public has seen through these cheap gimmicks. Mumbaikars are not really interested in knowing the origin of the onions in the market; they would rather buy them at a lower, more reasonable price. The government should do something to bring down the retail price instead of indulging in this tokenism.
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