STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Along with escalating prices of fuel and other essential commodities, a spurt in the prices of vegetables is adding to the woes of the residents of the city.
The vegetable that is now holding pride of place is the spiny gourd (bhaat kerela), with a cost of Rs 180-200 per kg. Following close behind are the pointed gourd (potol) at Rs 130-150 per kg, okra (bhendi) at Rs 130-140 per kg and bitter gourd (teeta kerela) at Rs 100 per kg. Long beans (lesera) are selling at Rs 110 per kg, while ivy gourd (kunduli) is selling at Rs 80-90 per kg. Drumsticks are also selling at Rs 80-90 per kg, while one lemon costs Rs 10.
According to vendors at a roadside daily market at Kahilipara, one of the main reasons for high prices of vegetables is that each of them has to pay a sort of daily goonda tax of Rs 150-200 to certain people who threaten to evict them if they do not pay an official tax. The vendors alleged that the police is aware of this system, but refrain from taking action against the tax-collectors.
A customer at a city market said that the situation has arisen due to the nonchalant attitude of the Food & Civil Supplies Minister, Ranjit Kumar Dass. The customer remarked that Dass had advised people to eat vegetables when the price of onions was high, but now even vegetables are getting beyond the reach of common people.
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