Onion Price keep Government on Tenterhooks

Though the government has announced a ban on the export of onions, its benefit is not percolating down to the consumer. The market manipulation seems clear considering the fact that onion prices had crashed in the Lasalgaon market in the morning, but again the prices spurted in the evening.

Strangely, the State Government has not taken any steps to bring down the prices of this vital ingredient in the kitchen. The Opposition has demanded that the government should initiate raids against hoarders and market manipulators but there is no sign of any action yet.

Prices of onions have doubled in the last one week. In one day only, the prices rose by Rs 20, indicating that there is more to the pricing of the onion than is obvious to the eye. Sky- rocketing onion prices are literally bringing tears to the eyes. With rates shooting to Rs 70- 80 per kg, the humble bulb has become really pricey, forcing people to drastically chop their purchase of the mainstay vegetable.

The onion has disappeared from eateries and restaurants besides the popular snacks like kanda- bhajiya or uttapa with the result that those who go for onionstudded snacks have to pay extra. Housewives may have reduced the amount of onions they buy, but they have not stopped its usage. " What option do we have. We simply can't do without onions ," said Bhakti Patil, a Wadala housewife. " We can compromise on some dishes, but not everywhere, " she added fervently.

However, with vacation time round the corner and sizzling dishes the order of the day, cutting down on onion- consuming delicacies is proving tough for many.

" It is winter vacation for children and we have relatives visiting us for Christmas. It is rather tough on us for such a basic commodity to be priced so high," said Pramila Dokras, another housewive. "At Rs70, onion today is more expensive than the vegetables it is used in," she said.